1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

chapter 95



95. The Wandering Band (1)

The Belman squad had been torn apart, and we were out gathering, Aisley leading the way.

[Mana levels have slightly increased.]

The frequency of Rix’s blessing, “Devoted Sage’s Favor,” had noticeably diminished.

This could only mean that even the wolves in the area had nearly finished their hunts.

A bit disappointing, yet the current mana was almost doubled.

It had been so pitifully low to begin with that any increase seemed significant… but still, it was something.

Limberton, standing beside me, scanned the surroundings and asked,

“Not a single wolf in sight, huh? How are the others supposed to score now?”

“Well, some might have earned enough points and are resting to conserve their stamina, while others might venture a bit further out to hunt different monsters.”

The outskirts, of course, were perilously dangerous.

Creatures that preyed on three-headed wolves were on a whole different level.

The silver lining was that, unlike the throngs of three-headed wolves, these monsters roamed alone, making them sufficiently manageable.

Yet, the reason I called it ‘very’ dangerous was…

Because of what lay ahead.

…The instructor of the wandering troupe and the base of the young wanderers.

“Still, that’s a minority. Most will be treasure hunting like us. They wouldn’t recklessly venture out without any intel on the monsters in the outskirts.”

Limberton squinted, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“You were just waiting for the wolves to be cleared on the first day, weren’t you? To make treasure hunting easier.”

“Exactly. That’s why the second day is the best time. Others are probably just starting to map things out.”

Limberton waved the map I had drawn, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

“But when did you even make this? Did you have the time?”

“When I was climbing up to find you, multitasking.”

There was nothing easier than gauging one’s position by looking down from above.

As long as you knew where the sun rose and the direction of the massive rocks and mountains, you could sketch it out easily.

The rest was just marking the areas where treasures frequently appeared, comparing it to the memories I had seen beyond the monitor.

It was reality, after all, so there would be some discrepancies, but I wasn’t worried about that.

“I found it.”

Thanks to Aisley’s abilities, I could easily fill in the gaps.

I examined the three mushrooms he handed me.

They looked like mushrooms woven from golden fibers.

“Is it the Silver Fungus? A rare delicacy, indeed. This one’s worth thirty points each.”

Makyung was a treasure trove, not just for medicinal herbs but also for rare insects and the gourmet ingredients that made the mouths of connoisseurs water.

Thus, many ventured deep into the shadows, risking their lives.

Especially in the Purple Forest, which marked the threshold of uncharted territory, one might occasionally encounter greedy adventurers.

Of course, the Academy had taken such factors into account when selecting a secluded area for their trials.

Therefore, these warnings were always to be heeded with caution.

‘Hussel, someone is watching us from that direction.’

‘Not a fellow student, I take it?’

‘The face looks a bit youthful. Their attire is also rather shabby compared to yours.’

······A band of fledgling wanderers, perhaps.

What they sought was the throats of the Frost students.

For now, they were merely gauging whether we were prey worth pursuing, sizing us up for a potential ambush.

The raid would commence tonight.

Still, leaving things as they were would likely expose the location of our stronghold.

It would be wise to drive them off.

“Why not come out instead of hiding like a squirrel?”

As I spoke, the sound of rustling leaves reached my ears.

‘…Not from that side, but from behind.’

‘I see.’

I turned my head and looked up at the trees.

Limberton and Asley fell into a defensive stance.

Keeping my gaze fixed on that spot, I deftly conjured a sharp blade of silver, imbued with stealth magic, and sent it flying silently.

Swish—

As the branch was severed, the mountain squirrel darted away, causing leaves to tremble in its wake.

“Missed it.”

Limberton lowered his bow, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Could it be those from the highlands?”

“Who knows?”

I replied without the need for further explanation.

That was something they would come to learn in due time.

“Surely, the presence of the golden mushrooms here means there are more nearby…”

As I scanned the surroundings, I felt I was burdening Asley too much.

“Ah, there! I found one!”

Limberton discovered another golden mushroom, giggling as he tucked it into his pack.

Then, he suddenly glanced at a severed branch and asked, “But why have you kept the fact that you’re a magic swordsman a secret until now?”

Ever since I had crossed paths with Luon, they had mistaken me for a magic swordsman.

In truth, it was more than a mere misunderstanding.

Even I, who had failed to clarify, recognized it as a deception, and they were simply the deceived.

Of course, there was a reason for it.

Lately, I had been plagued by nightmares.

Terrifying dreams where I was surrounded and trampled by those who had once bested me, their mocking voices echoing in my mind: “Did a nobody like him really pull a fast one?” and “Hand over all your coins!!”

In those dreams, I was mercilessly crushed, reduced to nothing but a mangy dog.

If discovered, those nightmares would become my reality.

Thus, even in this moment, I had to fan the flames of the “noble blood’s embers” and put on a façade.

“A clever hawk knows how to hide its talons.”

As Limberton’s eyes sparkled, a wave of reality washed over me.

…How did I end up in this state?

In the mansion, I had acted out of necessity for survival.

But at the academy, there was no need for such pretense.

I could have simply remained an extra, observing whether the narrative flowed smoothly, honing my strength to survive until graduation.

That had been the original plan.

Yet, the resistance I had undertaken to protect something precious from that b*stard Bidon was the true beginning.

Afterward, due to Rix and his group facing dungeon trials without weapons, I had rebelled against the Burger coffin and ultimately defeated Emerick.

And this was the result.

In the end, I had succumbed to the temptation of deceiving others as a magic swordsman, lured by the hundreds of gold coins Henderson had offered.

As I delved deeply into my own thoughts, Donathan provided a pragmatic piece of advice.

“Hussel, lies only create problems. Haven’t you experienced that already? The reason you ended up saving the red-haired woman was all due to your delusion of strength.”

Donathan was right.

I had already faced the consequences of that, and moving forward, I would only find myself entangled in more unnecessary troubles.

But it has long been the case that the river, once crossed, cannot be retraced.

“So, shall we confess now? If everything is laid bare, we might not even be left with bones to pick.”

“Ahem, that’s true. It has indeed become quite tangled. Too tangled to unravel…”

Still, the fact that I was doing my utmost eased my conscience, if only a little.

Even if I fell short of their expectations, I had strived to grow stronger.

I had sought out means, and I was the one who acted upon them.

The proof of my labor was the mana blade that even cleaved the aura.

Of course, it was merely a counterfeit made in a different manner than that of the swordmaster, but it was better than having nothing at all.

I gazed at them, hoping that if my deception were to be uncovered, they would be a little less disappointed.

Asley seemed to have found something again.

“It looks like what’s in the picture.”

“Well done, Asley. This time it’s a perfect score. Who would have thought you’d find the Sevilla flower?”

“But, Hessel, when do you plan to find that artifact?”

“I intend to search for it once everything is settled.”

For now, let’s focus on the tasks at hand.

* * *

The branches rustled noisily.

A girl who still looked too young to be an adult.

She glanced back, sweat beading on her brow.

Only upon seeing the empty space behind her did she let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew…”

She was the leader of the fledgling vagabond group.

What she had been doing until now was hiding and observing the enemy’s strength.

But someone had appeared, having sensed her presence.

‘…This has never happened before.’

She was quite flustered.

The sleeve of her garment was torn, as if sliced by a blade.

On the Frost Heart side, there was a swordmaster.

And two of them, at that.

‘The swordmaster isn’t just the one in the highlands. I must inform the instructor at once.’

She hurriedly escaped the territory of the three-headed wolf and made her way to the outskirts.

The stronghold lay shrouded in a thick, hazy mist.

Inside, everything was laid bare.

The fog merely cloaked the periphery, nothing more.

Three multi-fortresses stood tall, with tables scattered across the yard.

Young vagabonds sat on chairs, sharpening their weapons on whetstones, while the instructor spoke gravely at a large table.

As she approached, the instructor turned his head.

“You’re late, Merlyn.”

His expression was icy.

Merlyn felt the weight of his demeanor pressing down on her, and she quickly replied, her posture stiff.

“…I-I’m sorry, Instructor. I was worried I might have missed someone.”

“You should have heard from the other squad leader that everything has been accounted for, no?”

Merlyn knew that failing to provide a satisfactory answer would not bode well for her.

The instructor was a figure of both fear and reverence to the children here, a king in his own right.

He offered food for obedience, but wielded the whip for disobedience—a truth etched into flesh, leaving scars that would never fade.

Merlyn answered succinctly, her voice steady.

“There was one more dark mage.”

The instructor’s expression turned grave.

He checked his watch, then turned away.

“We’ll discuss that later.”

With a voice sharp as a blade, he called out to the children.

“Squad leaders, gather at once.”

The children moved in perfect unison.

The instructor looked at the lined-up squad leaders, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.

“I will now relay the instructions.”

With a flourish of his staff, a massive sheet of paper materialized in the air.

It was a map, a compilation of information gathered by the young vagabonds, all bound together.

Merlyn swallowed hard as she gazed at the marked positions of their foes.

‘But I still don’t know where that newly discovered fortress is… Surely, he won’t ask for the location too?’

If that were the case, it would be a disaster.

In the moment that made flesh tremble, the instructor swung his staff and began to explain with an unsettling calm.

The initial content was familiar, things learned and known by all.

Frost Hearts are classified into three grades based on their power.

In order of strength: Adel, Bürger, Shulafe.

To pass the test, it is wise to aim for the Shulafe grade.

Yet, there were some among them who had simply not yet had the chance to prove their skills, so one must remain vigilant.

“They say the man with the wild hair wields magic specialized in the embodiment arts. His prowess is said to rival that of the magicians of the Adel grade, as judged by the instructors.”

The instructor enlarged a montage of the wild-haired man and a few who followed him.

“The ones trailing him are no different. They are considered beyond the level of Shulafe.”

Then it would suffice to be wary of them and simply take the heads of the remaining Shulafe lot.

But then the instructor uttered a tempting phrase.

“I know you lot are secretly thinking of avoiding only the Adel folks. But if you manage it, a fitting reward shall be bestowed upon you. The same goes for hunting down the wild-haired man and his followers.”

One of the leaders shot his hand up.

The instructor nodded, allowing him to speak.

“May I ask what this reward is?”

“Within reason, I shall grant one request.”

“A request, you say?”

“Anything, as long as it does not involve leaving the troupe or harming the kingdom.”

The leader shivered slightly at the prospect.

“Then… if we ask you to find our parents, would you grant that?”

“Of course.”

Melin’s eyes widened in surprise.

This held great significance for the fledgling troupe.

All the children here had been abandoned in an orphanage before being dragged here to grow up.

Among them were those consumed by resentment, spitting curses, and others who seemed indifferent, perhaps believing themselves to be dead.

Yet, there were still those who held onto longing, and Melin was one of them.

‘Oh, mother…’

She who had been promised that someone would come for her, given a doll as a parting gift, and left in the orphanage.

But sold off to some wandering troupe, Melin found herself separated from life as she knew it.

Yet, we may meet again.

As the wish I had buried deep within my heart began to shine, it made me feel alive.

‘My target is the ones who follow the man with the ponytail.’

In the midst of solidifying my resolve, the instructions came to an end.

The raid begins tonight.

While everyone moved about for personal maintenance, the instructor called Melin over.

“Come here.”

The moment had arrived.

Melin approached the table where the instructors sat, her steps hesitant and shuffling.

Her gaze was fixated on the staff he held.

With each tap of the staff against the table, her heart raced with fear.

“You found the magic swordsman, did you?”

“Yes… The fabric of this sleeve is his doing.”

Melin displayed the tattered remnants of her shoulder sleeve.

It was a moment filled with anxious anticipation.

As expected, the situation unfolded as I had feared.

“Well then, you must know his location as well?”

At the sharpness of the instructor’s question, Melin regretted her choice.

They only provided food if results were delivered.

Yet her team was left to starve, with no achievements to show, facing yet another day of hunger.

Blinded by the weight of her responsibility as the leader, she had made a grave mistake.

‘…Surely, mere information about the existence of more magic swordsmen will not suffice.’

In her fear, Melin hastily conjured an excuse.

“I-I’m sorry, instructor. I couldn’t gather that much…”

“Why is that?”

“It’s because the location was compromised, and we had no choice but to flee—”

Melin abruptly halted, realizing her blunder.

She had just revealed to the enemy that their troupe was on the move, confessing it with her own lips.

The instructor raised his staff high.

“Melin, you are the most honest among the leaders, yet simultaneously the most foolish.”

Melin clutched the instructor’s pant leg, pleading.

“P-please, instructor, just this once, forgive me. They must have thought of me as nothing more than a beast! I was hidden beneath the leaves, that much is certain! So please!!”

It seemed his raw honesty had struck a chord.

“To make such a blunder and then ask for forgiveness… Well, fine. Your words do not sound like lies at all. Then I shall keep it simple, as usual, with a light punishment.”

The instructor withdrew his staff and picked up the whip that hung at his waist.

Whip!

A long line of crimson was drawn across Melin’s body.

Even amidst the tearing pain, Melin gritted his teeth and felt a flicker of relief within.

If he could just survive, he would one day meet his mother again.

* * *

From the second floor of the fortress, I lifted the telescope.

Smoke was rising from the lowlands, ablaze.

I turned to Limburton, recalling the question I had posed before.

“Limburton, do you remember the question I asked you once? Would you take the life of a child if they sought to kill you?”

Without hesitation, Limburton replied.

“No. I couldn’t kill.”

His expression was resolute.

It seemed he had pondered this since the first time I asked.

With unwavering eyes, Limburton inquired of me.

“And what about you?”

“Well, I don’t know?”

That “I don’t know” was the truest reflection of my feelings.

I must have been aware of it at some point.

In the world of Asares, where the strong devour the weak, the bare minimum for survival is ruthlessness.

This, in turn, meant the loss of one’s humanity.

Had I truly become a heartless being capable of killing a child?

“You’ll know when the opportunity arises.”

“And after you know?”

“I’ll tell you then. What I did.”

I rose from my seat and gazed up at the night sky.

A great cloud obscured the moon.

This place is Asares.

Though a light atmosphere has lingered until now, it is easily forgotten; this is a dark fantasy where one can witness the ugliness of humanity.

In this realm, those who live in shadows tread the easy path, while those who aspire to be light must pay the price and prove their worth—a truth of the world.

Tonight, someone will stain their hands with blood, and someone will spill it.

“But what are those things?”

“I’ll explain later, don’t ask, Limberton. Just come down for now. The lowlands look dangerous; we should go take a look.”


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.