46 – My Miseries – 1

A woman was wailing.

Embracing the corpse of a young man who closely resembled her, her screaming, “Why, why?” was a heartbreaking sight, even for those who did not know the detailed circumstances.

‘Why did you kill him, why! We were in the same party. I trusted you…!’

While others grieved or raged together, the one who was the target of the woman’s blame—an exceptionally large Orc—brazenly retorted.

‘I did not kill him. I simply failed to save him.’

‘Do not lie! I saw you intentionally guide that monster’s attack…! You might as well have killed my brother yourself!’

‘I did not expect him to be unable to overcome even that level of crisis. It is a pity.’

‘What…?’

To the woman, who wore a dazed expression after momentarily forgetting her grief at the unexpected words, the Orc spoke with a faint smirk, as if unable to contain his joy.

An unhideable jealousy and hatred seeped out of that laugh.

‘Since he became the owner of the achievement by surpassing me, I naturally thought he would be able to endure at least that much.’

‘So, just because you were jealous of that… you killed him?’

‘I have said it repeatedly, but I did not kill him. Do not tarnish my name with such an unpleasant stigma. How dare you, when even the system cannot call me a murderer?’

Baring his teeth, the Orc spoke menacingly before walking toward a greatsword left behind by the monster they had seemingly been fighting until a moment ago.

‘The priority—yes, it has returned to me now. I shall take this.’

‘You!’

‘The strong should naturally prove their worth, and the weak should naturally grovel on the floor to seek the help of the strong. Your brother… seems to have been a bit unaware of his place.’

Shouldering the greatsword, the Orc scoffed as he left the party just like that.

‘When the weak puff themselves up to act strong, bluffing and showing off, they end up dying like that. If you learned a lesson from this, you wench, practice crawling flat on the floor from now on. You have a decent face, so it should not be difficult.’

The Orc’s figure disappeared.

The remaining companions by the side of the left-behind woman apologized with tears, saying they were sorry and that they were too lacking to stop him, but the woman did not seem to hear any of their words.

She merely caressed the cheek of her brother, who had already become a cold corpse, endlessly… when she suddenly discovered that her dead brother was gripping something tightly in one hand.

It was none other than one of the earrings that had been hanging from the ear of the Orc who had just left.

* * *

When Gi-jun opened his eyes, several messages were floating before him.

―Through repeated battles that transcended limits, you have extremely overworked your body and mind, and through sufficient rest, you have embodied a state beyond that. Strength (U) has increased by 3, Dexterity (L) by 2, Endurance (U) by 4, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

―Everyone in the city is cheering and praising you as a hero. Of course, this cheering will not last forever, but it will make your Charm stand out even more. Charm (L) has increased by 1.

―You have contacted a high-ranking spirit, read its secret memories, and sympathized with it. This may serve as an opportunity to overcome the destiny placed before you. Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1.

―Through repeated battles that transcended limits, you have extremely overworked your body and mind, and through sufficient rest, you have embodied a state beyond that. Strength (U) has increased by 3, Dexterity (L) by 2, Endurance (U) by 4, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

―Everyone in the city is cheering and praising you as a hero. Of course, this cheering will not last forever, but it will make your Charm stand out even more. Charm (L) has increased by 1.

―You have contacted a high-ranking spirit, read its secret memories, and sympathized with it. This may serve as an opportunity to overcome the destiny placed before you. Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1.

Since it had been a fierce struggle lasting a full day, including the running and fighting from the moment the overflow occurred, he thought it made sense that his stats would rise.

Even so, as he was thinking that the range of increase was truly remarkable, he recalled that the stats that had grown significantly this time only had high grades, but their actual numerical values were not that high yet.

On the other hand, since he had been very active in various ways aside from leveling up, his Light Mana and Spiritual Power had already risen rapidly, so they only grew by 1 each this time…

[Gi-jun (Year 1): Earth Representative]

[Title — The Last Hero (Legendary) and 10 others]

[Light Human (R) Light Guide (U) Lv19]

[Strength (U) — 19+25]

[Dexterity (L) — 18+20]

[Endurance (U) — 20+20]

[Light Mana (L) — 31+22]

[Charm (L) — 13+20]

[Spiritual Power (L) — 34+20]

[Gi-jun (Year 1): Earth Representative]

[Title — The Last Hero (Legendary) and 10 others]

[Light Human (R) Light Guide (U) Lv19]

[Strength (U) — 19+25]

[Dexterity (L) — 18+20]

[Endurance (U) — 20+20]

[Light Mana (L) — 31+22]

[Charm (L) — 13+20]

[Spiritual Power (L) — 34+20]

He opened and examined the status window for the first time in several days.

The first thing that greeted him was the message next to his name: “Earth Representative.”

At this rate, it would be a grueling task to prove his innocence by opening his status window in front of others in the future…

Making such a silly thought as he lowered his gaze, he saw the class name that had grown during his final battle with the Demon King.

“…Biche.”

Although she was perfectly alive now and they could exchange messages, at the very moment he had changed classes to this, he had remembered Biche, who had willingly sacrificed herself for his growth, and felt unbearably sad.

Not only his class, but also his Dexterity, Light Mana, and even Moonlight Fangs had broken through their limits thanks to her…

Recalling how he had unnecessarily set a solemn mood back then, Gi-jun felt a bit embarrassed; he cleared his throat with a dry cough and checked the class effect again.

[Light Guide (U): The effectiveness of all attack and defense abilities utilizing Light Spirit Arts increases by 50%.]

[Light Guide (U): The effectiveness of all attack and defense abilities utilizing Light Spirit Arts increases by 50%.]

When it was Rare grade, that increase was only 30%, so it could be called a truly overwhelming growth.

The problem was that, having completely set up his race, mana, and class for a Light Spirit Summoner, he had now made a new contract with a Fire Spirit…

‘Considering that I can contract with other spirits in the future, even if I leave my race aside, I definitely need to improve my class.’

Even if not immediately, an opportunity would come someday.

Moreover, since his core combat technique, Moonlight Blood Fangs, was an ability that used Light Spirit Arts as its foundation anyway, there was no major problem with his current fighting strength.

Even when fighting on the castle wall yesterday, had he not ended up boldly using Light Spirit Arts in the crucial moment?

It meant he had prioritized human lives and achievements over exposing his identity, but it was fortunate that he had not been caught in the end.

If anything, his technique of mixing light and fire spirit powers seemed to have improved as he struggled to avoid getting caught.

‘My stats… have indeed risen quite a bit. The pure stats for Light Mana and Spiritual Power are already in their 30s.’

And the bonus that increased all those stats by 20 was due to the effect of the title ‘The Last Hero’.

Added to that, due to the stat bonus of the King of the Well, his Unique-grade Strength rose by 5, and his Legendary-grade Light Mana rose by 2, which was less than half, completing his current stats.

“So far… it’s going smoothly. It’s fine.”

―It’s at the level of dashing at light speed. The contractor seems to be mistaken, but it hasn’t even been a week since we crossed over to Leta.

“Ah, Lucy. You’re awake.”

―Kee?

“Ur, too. Did you sleep well?”

At the rustling sound of Gi-jun waking up first, Lucy and Ur, who had been sleeping at the head of his bed, seemed to have woken up as well.

Gi-jun rubbed his eyes and sat up from the bed, hugging Ur, who was burrowing into his arms, and playing with him appropriately.

Then, realizing that the room’s atmosphere was strangely luxurious, he fell into thought for a moment.

How did I end up falling asleep in this room yesterday…?

Just then, a knock, knock on the door was heard.

―Excuse me, Mage. Are you awake?

“Ah—yes, I am awake.”

When Gi-jun, who had almost answered politely by reflex before realizing he was currently wearing a mask, hastily corrected his words to reply, the door opened gently and a woman in a maid uniform walked inside.

Only then did Gi-jun recall the fact that he had been guided by soldiers to a guest room in the mansion where the lord of the small city resided.

Because he had collapsed onto the bed before he could even hear any detailed explanation, he had no memories after that.

“I brought some food, thinking you might be hungry. I will serve your meal.”

“No, it’s fine. I will eat it myself.”

“…Understood.”

In Gi-jun’s eyes, the maid seemed disappointed that she could not serve him directly.

While he was feeling awkward about experiencing something he had never gone through in his life, accepting a tray containing salad, cheese, bread, and a well-boiled meat stew, Lucy whispered into his ear.

―She is definitely planning to brag to the other maids about serving the contractor. The whole of this small city is buzzing with talk about the contractor right now.

‘No way. How could that be something worth talking about?’

Smirking as he sat back down on the bed to start eating, the maid still had not left, standing quietly with her head lowered.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“May I speak while you are eating?”

“Speak.”

The maid bowed politely once again and informed him that an award ceremony by the lord would be held during the morning.

“He asked that the Mage, who established brilliant achievements in defending the city, must attend without fail.”

“I—fought as a temporary mercenary, though.”

“Because it was not the achievement of a mere mercenary.”

The maid calmly continued.

“We only wish to treat you in accordance with your achievements, so please do not be angry. Also… though their circumstances are different from yours, all the mercenaries who participated in this defense battle will also be attending the ceremony.”

“If so, then fine. I understand. I shall gladly accept.”

Gi-jun recalled that the quest was not yet completed.

Come to think of it, he had achieved two core objectives, a secret objective, and the final objective during the quest.

Perhaps because of that, the quest reward had changed significantly.

Nodding in understanding, Gi-jun handed the empty tray to the maid and asked.

“By when and where should I go?”

“Two hours from now, at the public platform prepared in front of the lord’s mansion.”

“I see.”

“If there is anything else you would like to order…”

“No, that is all.”

This time, as expected, the maid left with obvious regret.

Feeling awkward and uncomfortable about it, Gi-jun thought that he was indeed still far from becoming an Übermensch.

―I wanted to eat meat stew, too.

“It didn’t taste very good. I will make some for you later.”

―I love the contractor!

―Kee-ee-et, kee-kit!

Was he indeed a Spirit Summoner, or a chef for spirits?

Hiding his inner thoughts, Gi-jun stood up, first confirmed that the door was locked, set his mask aside, and used the shower facility attached to the room to wash his body clean.

Surprisingly, the shower, faucet, bathtub, toilet, and even the drain were almost identical in structure and method to those of modern Earth, only differing in their operating principles.

Furthermore, from shampoo to conditioner, body wash to lotion—items that were probably made with Leta’s alchemy—their quality was even vastly superior to Earth’s!

“At this rate, this is just Earth…? Why did they make the tutorial so inconvenient then?”

Grumbling at the odd part as he enjoyed civilization for the first time in twenty-five years, Gi-jun felt refreshed, changed into the clothes prepared on one side, and wore the mask again.

Then, he suddenly recalled the fact that he had obtained several spoils of war from this battle.

First was the black breastplate obtained from the Dullahan.

The blood-red estoc left behind by the vampire.

…And even the Dullahan’s head.

“Why on earth is this left behind?”

―I don’t know even if you ask me, contractor. Fortunately, it seems to have been purified by light and flame… but why don’t you check the information?

Gi-jun wanted to smash the menacingly frowning Dullahan’s head right away, but perhaps because its durability had increased while being purified, as Lucy said, it did not budge under ordinary strength.

Was this really an item? Well, since it went into his inventory, it had to be an item.

[Purified Head of the Knight of Blood Limit (Unique)]

[Durability — 7,877/10,000]

[Attack Power (U)/Defense Power (U) — 75/99]

[The remaining product of a Dullahan’s head that had successfully achieved a miraculous class change and gained great power through contact with an evil and great being, which has miraculously been purified once again by holy light and flame. It is imbued with the power of flame and light and is extremely hard, so it would be a fine piece of equipment even if held and fought with as is, but it feels as though the power latent within it would awaken if it underwent proper physical and magical processing. A top-grade material that might even transcend the limits of its rank.]

[Purified Head of the Knight of Blood Limit (Unique)]

[Durability — 7,877/10,000]

[Attack Power (U)/Defense Power (U) — 75/99]

[The remaining product of a Dullahan’s head that had successfully achieved a miraculous class change and gained great power through contact with an evil and great being, which has miraculously been purified once again by holy light and flame. It is imbued with the power of flame and light and is extremely hard, so it would be a fine piece of equipment even if held and fought with as is, but it feels as though the power latent within it would awaken if it underwent proper physical and magical processing. A top-grade material that might even transcend the limits of its rank.]

“Material.”

―Material…

―Kee-ee-et?

Material!

A Dullahan’s head is a material!

He could not cope with this reality, but frustratingly, this head had attack and defense power that easily surpassed the King of the Well.

Its appearance… looked like something he would want to throw away right this instant, but thinking that discarding such an item would bring divine punishment, he had no choice but to put it back into his inventory.

Next, he examined the breastplate left behind by the Dullahan; this also had a Unique rank, but it was so steeped in demonic energy that it was at a level he could not possibly wear.

―I will try to purify it steadily, contractor. Its performance might drop a little, but it will probably still be usable.

“Thank you, Lucy. Then all that’s left is this one estoc…”

The only thing left behind by the high-ranking boss-grade monster, who was presumed to be the mastermind behind this overflow.

Seeing how it had held two estocs when he first saw it, but one had vanished, was it not instant proof that dual-wielding was indeed the exclusive domain of show-offs?

[(Modified) Blood Sword of the Lord of Thorns (Unique)]

[Durability — 3,621/4,000]

[Attack Power (U) — 95]

[Option 1 — Increases Mana and Blood Power by 5]

[Option 2 — Causes the blood coated on the sword to bloom thorns, and its power is amplified by special blood magic.]

[(Modified) Option 3 — Simultaneously inflicts 99 thrust attacks for only a single thrust.]

[Equip Restriction — Possession of the title ‘Blood Kin of the Lord of Thorns’]

[A thrust-specialized sword that an evil and great vampire distributed to his blood kin. This is a token and a key for the blood kin, so only one is bestowed upon any kinsman. It has temporarily absorbed a large amount of the vampire’s true blood shed right before death, greatly amplifying its performance, but it remains unused.]

[(Modified) Blood Sword of the Lord of Thorns (Unique)]

[Durability — 3,621/4,000]

[Attack Power (U) — 95]

[Option 1 — Increases Mana and Blood Power by 5]

[Option 2 — Causes the blood coated on the sword to bloom thorns, and its power is amplified by special blood magic.]

[(Modified) Option 3 — Simultaneously inflicts 99 thrust attacks for only a single thrust.]

[Equip Restriction — Possession of the title ‘Blood Kin of the Lord of Thorns’]

[A thrust-specialized sword that an evil and great vampire distributed to his blood kin. This is a token and a key for the blood kin, so only one is bestowed upon any kinsman. It has temporarily absorbed a large amount of the vampire’s true blood shed right before death, greatly amplifying its performance, but it remains unused.]

“This bastard.”

The other one was a fake, no wonder it had disappeared so quickly.

Although the performance of the estoc could dare to be called top-tier even among Unique ranks, it was entirely exclusive to vampires, and only a vampire meeting special conditions could equip it, so it was as good as worthless to Gi-jun.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, the part stating it was a token and key for the blood kin gave him a strong premonition that it would somehow relate to him later, so he decided to keep it tucked away safely in his inventory for now.

“Ah.”

Then, discovering an object sitting in his inventory, Gi-jun narrowed his eyes.

It was the single remaining earring.

A single earring engraved with a pattern holding a unique magical meaning.

Just looking at it caused the dream he had had before waking up to replay vividly in his mind once again.

“I cannot rashly interrogate someone else over past events I don’t know the details of.”

He muttered so, as if promising himself.

Since he was neither a detective nor a hero, it was only natural.

However.

“As long as he doesn’t mess with me first…”

A strong premonition that it would not simply pass like this dominated his mind.

Soon, the award ceremony was held.

Gi-jun, too.

And of course, Tolchi, the lord’s direct knight, was also participating in the event.