1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

94. The Joining

Hussel withdrew his gaze from Limberton and lifted his head.

The two men flinched at the sound.

The skill they had just witnessed was surely something only a master swordsman could perform.

In a situation already fraught with difficulty in movement.

A throng had gathered behind Hussel, joining the fray.

“What are those people that they dare to… Sylla…?”

“Hussel, is it dangerous? Were those guys the ones who got in through donations?”

—

Two men watched Luon closely.

Luon shook his head.

He too seemed to wish to avoid a fight.

“Tch. If it weren’t for the meddler…”

“Right? We were just getting warmed up, what a shame.”

As the chains were released, Shilla tore the cloth from her mouth.

Then she spat at the men.

“…You b*stards. I’ve memorized your faces. Once my legs heal, you’ll die by my hand!!”

With a fierce glare, she limped away.

“But that captured girl over there, she’s something else, isn’t she?”

“Hmm? Don’t you know? That’s Leana. The fiancée of our former chairman.”

While the two men licked their lips, Luon turned to Hursel.

“Are the people behind you your friends, like Limberton?”

His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

Hursel replied coldly.

“Let’s say that’s true.”

Luon let out a deep sigh.

Then, as if relieved, he smiled faintly.

“Take care.”

Hursel turned his back.

There had been a dispute with the group, yet they all accepted his words without question.

“If you want to hold me accountable, do it later. Right now, we’re in the middle of a test. There will be other times to expend your strength, won’t there?”

He led the group away.

Alcis, with a cat-like scratch on her cheek, asked Luon.

“Luon. You could have won, couldn’t you? Is it really okay to let it go like this?”

Luon laughed, as if it were absurd.

“If he had shown his true strength, we’d be dead.”

Luon recalled the events in the corridor of the Forbidden Library.

Hursel, untouched by the magical spears that filled the space.

And who would have thought he was a swordmaster?

“W-what is that sound? You know as well as I do that Hessel was always just a fool playing at atmosphere. Even if he’s suddenly discovered some talent for being a swordmaster, do you really think he could be stronger than you?”

As he rambled on, Alsis seemed to realize he had made a mistake and squeezed his eyes shut.

“I-I’m sorry. I take back the fool comment.”

Luon, who usually wouldn’t let such insults slide, found himself devoid of that urge today.

He merely responded with an air of indifference.

“The six whiskers drawn upon your cheek? I can take one down, and in that instant, he could slice through five. Just from that, it’s clear he’s several steps ahead of me. Do you understand now?”

Alsis swallowed hard, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.

“Yeah, I get it. But, Luon, something feels off about you today… Can I ask just one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Um, ahem. Do you still wish for Hessel to return to the chair of leadership? Is that still valid?”

At the cautious inquiry, Luon let out a soft chuckle.

“Just now, through his demeanor, I became certain. He doesn’t seem to have any desire to return. What good is it to force someone who doesn’t want to stay?”

The two men shared a grin, their lips curling in delight.

Luon paid no mind to their reactions and continued his thought.

“But for some reason… I have this ominous feeling that he might interfere with our plans in the future.”

Alsis asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

“What if that happens?”

“Then we must kill him.”

Luon’s face bore an unsettling softness as he replied.

Meanwhile, a bird, ill-suited to the Purple Forest, gazed down at the scene with vacant eyes.

A pigeon, its neck bound with a hair tie.

Peldy murmured softly, “The more I see him, the more I think he’s quite a decent man.”

* * *

Two days had passed since the start of the magic practice.

To summarize what I’ve learned so far…

The reason Riamon couldn’t join the Belman squad was just as I had suspected.

At this point, there were 25 students in the Adel class.

That would have been the case ordinarily, but there was a variable at play.

Due to the unexpected addition of Erucel, who wasn’t even supposed to enroll, the number swelled to twenty-six.

Thus, instead of transferring the surplus Riamon to another unit, he was organized into a two-person squad.

Up to this point, it was all within the realm of expectation.

Yet, I could never have imagined the tangled web of causality that would unfold.

After all, I’m no seer; predicting this was beyond the realm of possibility.

How could I have foreseen that Shilla would suffer a leg injury because of me, and that she wouldn’t even recover properly after a month of training at the Adel Hall?

Who would have guessed that Belman would ignite his competitive spirit and overreach in the hunt for the leader due to Riamon’s absence?

And how could I have known that Shilla would lock eyes with the leader while stepping on the barrier stairs, leading to paralysis and a worsening leg injury?

Of course, I cannot deny that I am the root of all these troubles.

Still, it’s not as if I did anything more than struggle to survive.

It feels profoundly unjust to have the tide return in this manner.

Yet, the intervention of a third party wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

“Limberton. You’re telling me that a figure wrapped in rags truly appeared?”

“Indeed! I was on the brink of death, so perhaps I was hallucinating… But I don’t understand why you seem so pleased about it.”

It’s not that it was merely a hallucination.

There are times when a deity bestowing blessings reveals themselves.

This is a characteristic arising from a concealed true name, an event that infuses new power when certain conditions are met.

Such was the blessing that Limberton possessed.

◆ Blessing of the Wind Hermit ◆

η Do not inquire about me. I am but a nobody.

Gains accuracy through favorable winds.

This blessing must have transformed from what it once was.

◆ Blessing of the Wind Wanderer ◆

η Wealth and honor are things to be relinquished someday. The only companion for life is oneself.

Gains accuracy through favorable winds.

Detects targets through sound waves.

The true name has yet to be revealed.

I have merely begun to dip my toes into the awakening, but the significance is immense.

Achieving this before the end of the first semester is no small feat.

Thanks to this, Limberton now possesses an accuracy so refined that he could hit a target even with his eyes closed.

The growth of the playable character is directly tied to my safety, so it’s a cause for joy.

At this point, a compliment wouldn’t be out of place.

“I never thought you’d take down the leader all by yourself. Here, eat as much jerky as you like.”

“Huh? Weren’t you saving that?”

“There’s plenty, so it’s fine. I got it from those guys.”

I pointed to the corner where Belman’s squad huddled.

Leana swallowed hard, eyeing the jerky in my hand, while Sila glared at Belman as if she wished to kill him, and Belman, without a word, buried himself in his book.

“…But how long do you plan to stay here?”

When I asked, Belman closed his book and replied.

“I thought I proposed a cooperative relationship?”

His squad was lagging behind in the competition since Sila was injured.

Just then, Riamon and that fool Erus were out hunting the leader.

And I heard that Rix had also gathered a squad to finish off the remaining leaders.

In the end, the Triad Wolves had lost their leader and were forced to retreat from the area.

Their only chance to score big now lay in treasure hunting.

To put it simply, he had caught the scent of points quite well.

The moment it became clear that we had been aiming for points through treasure hunting from the start, it also revealed that we were a few steps ahead.

“How about looking for the remaining wolves?”

“…Are you pretending not to know the situation?”

“Exactly. And your circumstances are none of my concern.”

Truth be told, it was a bit troublesome.

They needed to remain in the Adel district for the narrative to unfold properly, but if they were demoted to the Bürger district…

Thus, I had no choice but to devise a clever plan.

It wouldn’t do to help for free; I needed something in return.

I smiled like an angel and extended a hand of salvation to them.

“If it were before, I might have, but I’ll show some generosity this time. My heart is quite wide right now.”

Leana’s eyes widened in surprise.

Sila looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it, and Belman’s reaction was no different.

“Leana, look at him. He really is as strange as you said.”

“It seems he’s been saying things like that a lot lately.”

“Hershel, for all your words, your face lacks credibility.”

···Should I just let these b*stards get demoted?

“Shut your mouth and listen. Here are the terms we propose: we’ll let you join the treasure hunt, and you can earn points from it. But once the grading is done, everything you find must be handed over to us.”

Even if it’s a practice, this is a place for training Pathfinders.

The rule that treasures found in the magical realm belong to the discoverer, except for certain items, still applies.

This meant that once the grading was complete, they could do whatever they wanted with the items they found.

“So, are we supposed to give up the coins?”

I nodded at Leana’s question.

Silla was in a frenzy.

“Belman. Don’t listen to them. My wallet is already empty as it is.”

“Silla… That’s because you’ve been gambling recklessly. Leana and I aren’t exactly desperate.”

I shot a sharp glare at Silla.

This insufferable one.

I was sure she had bet against me not getting first place in the written exam.

“But I…”

“You’re the only one against it. Just accept it quietly.”

There were a few more noises within the Belman group, but in the end, Silla kept her mouth shut.

“Then I take it we accept this by majority vote.”

With cooperation decided, a few minutes passed.

While reviewing the recorded map, Limberton approached and asked.

“Hershel, is it okay if I share some of this with them?”

“Is that really something you need to ask?”

“Still, I need to get the captain’s permission.”

Today, Limberton seemed particularly commendable.

The rations were also managed by the captain’s judgment.

Knowing this was proof that he had been studying hard.

“Do as you wish.”

Limberton approached Belman’s group and offered them jerky.

Silla, displeased with Limberton’s actions, sulked.

“Why this? Are you expecting a thank you from me or something?”

“Not really. Anyway, it was Hershel who saved us, so I don’t mind if you don’t say thank you. If you don’t like it, then don’t eat it.”

“Tch.”

Silla grimaced in humiliation as she tore into the jerky.

Was she ashamed of it, perhaps?

I shifted the topic toward Asley.

“But how did that barbarian get into the Academy?”

I pressed, my voice sharp.

“Ugh!”

Limberton narrowed his eyes and chimed in.

“Don’t use the word barbarian. That’s a discriminatory remark.”

Asley defined himself this way.

“I am a foreigner.”

The Belman squad trembled as if they were looking at some strange creature.

* * *

While they joined our fortress, we established a few rules.

“Act in a way that doesn’t reveal this location upon return.”

It was a well-camouflaged environment, and being discovered would bring no good.

Thieving scoundrels blinded by greed could emerge.

And being marked by certain individuals would only spell danger.

“Never think of going outside at night.”

Belman asked.

“Why not? The wolves are thin and shouldn’t pose a threat.”

I made up an excuse.

“That’s exactly the problem. It’s safe, so others will surely extend their activity into the night, right?”

“…That makes sense.”

Belman nodded readily.

He was probably wary of the Ruon faction settled in the highlands.

The moment he heard that the guy was a sword mage, his alertness shot up.

Thanks to that, I didn’t have to worry about spilling future information.

Even now, the little vagabond was lurking, waiting for an opportunity.

The gathering of information regarding the position and numbers of the Frost Heart faction, distinguishing the strong from the weak, must have reached its conclusion.

Perhaps tonight, the raid shall commence.

Thus, the time for treasure hunting is now, and only after they have been organized.

There was no longer any time to linger in leisure.

“You’ve memorized all the herbs we need to find, haven’t you?”

Asley nodded confidently.

“I shall offer tribute to the master.”

Hearing his assured response filled me with a sense of unwavering support.

His skills in foraging, honed from a life in the wild, were unmatched.

I had a rough idea of where the good treasures lay hidden, but finding them with my own eyes was another matter entirely.

Asley would gather every last one without missing a single item.

I handed the map to Belman.

“Do you see the mark there? Make sure you search that area without overlapping your routes.”

“Are you certain? It seems suspicious. I can hardly believe a map like this was made already.”

Any doubts would vanish once we arrived in person.

There was no need to persuade him with reasons.

“Do you have a choice but to trust me?”

With a slight pressure, Belman fell silent.

As I was gathering the foraging tools, Limberton whispered softly in my ear.

“But aren’t we after the relic? If we find that, it’s all over, so is there really a need to work so hard?”

What a clever lad.

To speak so discreetly without being caught by Belman.

It’s a simple truth, yet today, everything he does seems charming.

“What does it matter? If we earn a lot of coins, that’s a good thing.”

“…You’ve already made a big score recently.”

“I’m still thirsty for more.”

As we bantered, preparations were complete.

I opened the fortress entrance and spoke.

“Shall we begin?”