Chapter 84 |
A traitor to his family.
That was the label attached to Lérang.
For years, until the death of the Fleur family head and the disappearance of the Fleur family into the annals of history, this label persistently followed Lérang.
But after Lérang became famous, the label of the family's traitor disappeared.
Instead, the number of people praising him and seeking his teachings increased.
After all, beings capable of using various swordsmanship techniques, especially secret ones, were rare.
'But Lérang eventually fell for the temptation of a demon.'
Was it because he wanted to uphold his nickname 'The Mimic Lérang,' or was it greed for more secret techniques?
The demon's temptation promised him access to all the secret techniques he desired.
However, the clause that the more he used the sword's power, the more it would consume him, was hidden, and Lérang only discovered this much later.
Time passed, and the sword's corruption had taken over most of his right arm.
Deeming it too dangerous to continue, he distanced himself from the cursed sword and accepted a formal position as a teacher at Annwood Academy.
'But that turned out to be a poison instead.'
Talented children, children using the swordsmanship of prestigious families, were everywhere.
Lérang eventually borrowed the cursed sword's power again, leading to its rampage.
And following the trail of the rampage caused by the cursed sword were Rodelin and the main characters.
Lérang ultimately meets his end at their hands.
'That's the story of Lérang that's been revealed so far. His name does appear in the mid to late game, but...'
It was always under the name 'The Mimic Lérang.'
Information about 'Lérang of the Fleur family' was hardly found.
What little there was included:
- Sorry. I couldn't lead you.
An old letter found in the ruins of the Fleur family mansion, presumably intended for Lérang from the head of the Fleur family.
Now, let's summarize.
'I have to make Lérang repent.'
To make him repent means to make him realize and correct his wrong thoughts and actions.
And this likely involves 'mimicry.'
Not only because he became famous for mimicry, but also because the cursed sword's ability was to mimic.
Even going so far as to hasten the downfall of the Fleur family by defeating his own family with mimicked swordsmanship.
To awaken him to the fact that such actions were wrong and to make him repent.
The quest's requirement for repentance most likely refers to this.
'There could be other reasons, but the probability is low.'
This is the only publicly known story about Lérang.
And the decisive reason I think this way is one.
The word 'mimic.' Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Yes, one of my skills.
[Divine Imitation].
'I've never seen a quest asking to make Lérang repent before.'
A quest not even the veterans have encountered, truly a first.
Yes, this is a.
'Hidden piece.'
For some reason, a hidden piece related to Lérang was triggered, affecting the main quest.
At the end of Chapter 1.
Among the few significant changes in my usual gameplay:
'The slaying of the demon shard, acquisition of Divine Imitation, the deal with Caron, the proxy duel with Daike.'
Only these four. So, which among these is related to Lérang?
[Divine Imitation], that's the only one.
'Both Lérang and I are beings that mimic. That's why the hidden piece was triggered.'
The problem is how to make him repent.
That was the issue.
'Not that it matters if I don't make him repent and just kill him...'
Defeating Lérang is the main quest's clear condition.
'To kill him after making him repent' is just a condition for a hidden reward.
And the hidden reward is nothing but a rank upgrade for [Eye Opening].
Giving up wouldn't be a problem. However.
'Something feels off.'
It's the fourth main quest and the one that concludes Chapter 1.
But the reward is just a 2-level up and 10 gold.
That's too stingy. Therefore.
'There must be a hidden reward.'
Like the 'Invisible Substance' obtained from defeating the transparent slime.
It's highly likely to be that kind of drop item.
The existence of a quest I've never seen before, and the presence of a hidden reward.
Somehow, I wanted to clear it no matter what.
I am a veteran player who enjoys this game.
A gamer.
'The good news is, I know why Lérang is obsessed with mimicry.'
The reason for his obsession. It's because of.
'Inferiority complex.'
Comparing oneself to others, feeling inferior.
It's the worst emotion that slowly eats away at a person and ultimately leads them to destroy themselves.
One of the demons' favorite things.
When people compare themselves to others, weighing what they have against others.
They easily reach out to sign a demon's contract.
'Overcoming the inferiority complex.'
This will be the key to making Lérang repent.
Zap-.
'Hmm?'
While I was thinking, my [Hyper Sense] suddenly activated.
Scratching my head slightly, I flailed my arms and headed to a corner of the training ground.
Flailing-
"What are you doing all of a sudden? Are you crazy?"
"Keke, not at all. It should be around here..."
Thud-.
My arm hit something. Thin air, supposedly.
I lightly swung my fist. Then.
Crack-!
The sound of paper crumbling echoed, and the air warped.
Something revealed itself.
A box camouflaged as the training ground wall.
Once its perfect camouflage was disturbed, the illusion effect disappeared.
And the owner of this box was...
Pop!
"Eek!"
A girl with bangs too long to see her eyes, Rezé, emerged.
"What? Why is she coming out from there?"
Right? Finally, we're on the same page, Luna.
"Keke, Miss Rezé. What are you doing here?"
"Ju-just hanging out. Bu-but more importantly... ho-how did you find me?"
Well, that's a.
"Secret."
"Is, is that so. Then, I'll be going now..."
Rezé fiddled with the box, attempting to retreat back inside.
Trying to enter a box while people are talking.
This kind of communication won't make friends.
'No choice then.'
An admirable child who revealed Luna's location.
I have to change this terrible communication skill.
I am a kind kid, after all.
Crunch-!
I tore open the box and stomped it into pieces.
In an instant, the box transformed into scrap paper.
"My, my hooome-!!"
Rezé trembled as she lay in front of the scrap paper.
Was that supposed to be her home? What about the dormitory?
Luna asked, perhaps wondering the same thing.
"What? Weren't you living in the dormitory?"
"Ye-yes."
"Then how is this your home? What do you mean?"
"I sle-sleep in a bo-box in my room."
"...?"
Luna turned to me, asking if I understood what she meant.
But I was just as confused by Rezé's words as she was.
Hmm, let's translate slowly.
So, inside her room in the dormitory.
There's a box in that room.
And she sleeps inside that box?
"Why?"
"Be-because it's comfortable."
"Keke, it doesn't seem comfortable at all."
"In th-this world, there are lot of predators. Yo-you always have to be careful. Es-especially when you're asleep."
"Who are these predators?"
"Ev-everyone but me."
...At this rate, she's not a herbivore but the ultimate weakest being on earth?
Even in the game, she was a character hard to understand, but seeing it firsthand is even more baffling.
Rezé collected the torn pieces of the box and put them in her spatial pouch. Then.
Fumbling around.
Thud.
She pulled out another box. Identical to the training ground wall.
"...You had another one?"
"It's for emergencies. Just in case something like today happens. I tend to make three of each box."
I see. Not just one but three.
To put it nicely, she's thorough.
To put it badly, she's asking for trouble.
Then, that means...
"Keke, Miss Rezé. Were there three of those stone-shaped boxes we saw last time?"
"Eh? Yes... Including the original, there are four."
"...How many boxes do you actually have?"
"Well, I haven't counted them. Maybe... around 100?"
To have 100 boxes that can blend into any environment.
That's terrifying.
"Well, I'll be going now..."
It was when Rezé tried to enter the box and close the lid.
Luna reached out and grabbed Rezé's hair, the antennae-like tuft sticking out on top of her head.
"Where do you think you're going? Do you think I'm a fool?"
"Wh-What?"
"You might be able to deceive this fool, but not me! You spy!"
Luna dragged Rezé out of the box.
Rezé fell flat, and Luna climbed on top of her, grabbing her legs and lifting them up.
Luna's signature move. The Cobra Twist.
"I might have let you go last time, but not this time! Who sent you? Who's behind you spying on us?"
"Eek! I-I've never done such a thing!"
"Lies! Then why were you watching us?"
"I was watching, but it's a misunderstanding! I-I was already here in the training ground. You all came to where I was."
Hmm, now that I think about it, that's true.
Since we arrived, the training ground's door hasn't opened once.
Even though Rezé is a master of stealth, it's impossible to enter without opening the door.
"...Spy."
"What?"
"If you're a spy, you must have some way!"
"That's ridiculous! It's a forced accusation!"
"Quiet! Eat this! Cobra Twist!"
"Aaaaack!!"
Luna began to twist Rezé's waist.
Well, it's a sight I often see, but it's artistic.
If there were professional wrestling in this world, she could have been a great wrestler.
Beep-beep-beep!
"Bullying is a reason for penalty points!"
Outside the training ground window.
It was Rodelin, peeking out and shouting.
If there's a problem, it's that it's a second-floor window.
Exactly how one appears there is beyond a regular person's understanding.
"Sa-sa-sa...!"
"Eh? What's wrong with her again?"
"Li-lion! We-we have to run!"
"Aaaah!"
Luna fell backward.
It was because Rezé moved with explosive speed.
[Survivalist].
A trait that doubles the stats had activated.
But calling Rodelin a lion.
‘The Lucid family's emblem is a lion.’
But that doesn't make her a lion.
So, it's strange for Rezé to run away.
"I-I'll be going now... I had fun today!"
Rezé entered the box and closed the lid.
The box blended with the wall instantly.
At the same time, Rezé's presence faded away and disappeared completely.
She moved out of [Hyper Sense]'s range.
"What? Where did she disappear to?"
"Keke, she must be inside. But it'll be hard to find."
Luna scratched her head.
"She's really a peculiar one. Haven't seen anything as peculiar as your face until now."
"..."
I can't believe my face is on the same level as that weird kid.
I felt a little sad.
--TL Notes--
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