A Chance Encounter in the Game Becomes Reality, Episode 10
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A Chance Encounter in the Game Becomes Reality, Episode 10
3. Battlefield (4)
Current level: 78.
Once I reach level 80, I'll be able to create the 4th circle, so I should be able to clear the 4th chance quest within today.
For a while, I'll be able to level up quickly through Salamander's Tears, but even if the damage is fixed, the power of 3,000 attack power still falls short of the 4th-circle level, so after level 100 it won't shine much.
Still, if I combine it with magic, I'll keep leveling up a little faster than if I fought normally.
If the system hadn't put a stop to it, calling it abnormal growth, I could have reached level 200 in no time, which is a shame in many ways.
For reference, while the 4th circle is level 80, the 5th circle is level 120, so the difficulty rises sharply.
Level 160 is the 6th circle, and level 200 is the 7th circle.
From the 7th circle onward, one is called a great mage and is such a valuable figure that any nation would welcome them, promising them a title no lower than count, so my first goal is to reach level 200.
'If I become a 7th-circle great mage, that naturally means Arsia will also become an equivalent aura master.'
In a world with technology no different from science fiction, it might seem absurd to even mention knights, let alone mages, but in reality, that wasn't the case.
That was because, as technology advanced, there were means to greatly amplify the power of aura.
In other words, the moment I achieve my first goal of level 200 is when I'll shed all my pitiful behavior and reveal my true nature.
Of course, I need to take some kind of measures so I won't be suspected as the duke of Lucas's chance encounter holder, and I've already thought of something about that separately.
The period until I reach level 200 is roughly two months.
Even on the battlefield, whenever I have time, I plan to put on a brave face and log into the game.
"How long will it take to get to the western command?"
At my question, Staff Officer Sir Haman stroked his neatly trimmed beard and answered.
"If we move at this speed without changing course, it should probably take about three hours."
The injured train's maximum speed is 900 km/h, but considering safety, it can't run at top speed.
Since the distance from Lawrence Territory, located in the northern part of the kingdom, to the western command is about 1,600 km, if you assume an average speed of about 500 km/h, that should be about right.
I nodded and stood up from my seat.
"Then I'll rest in my room for a bit, so if anything comes up, please send me a message to my terminal."
"A message?"
Toward Sir Haman, who looked puzzled, I boldly took out my game-login headgear and shook it.
"..."
It was a gesture that clearly said I planned to enjoy a game.
Sir Haman, along with the entire staff, frowned.
But I, rather, asked as if I couldn't understand.
"Why, is there a problem?"
In response, the staff, whether they liked it or not, could not object to me, the acting lord.
"Good grief, the rumors were true after all.... Are you sure this is okay? To the soldiers, you'll look like an incompetent commander."
But there was someone who clicked his tongue and expressed his thoughts without restraint in front of me like that: a burly knight named Dalton.
He was a high-ranking knight at the level of an 'Aura Expert,' and since he was one of only ten 'Vanguards' in Lawrence Viscounty, the weight of his words was different.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere inside the train sank in an instant.
The rank classifications for knights and mages are as follows.
1st 2nd circle (apprentice mage) = mana user (apprentice knight)
3rd 4th circle (regular mage) = aura user (regular knight)
5th 6th circle (high-ranking mage) = aura expert (high-ranking knight)
7th circle, wizard (great mage, title) = aura master (knight commander, title)
8th circle, grand wizard (great mage, title) = grand master (knight commander, title)
9th circle, lord wizard (great mage, title) = lord master (knight commander, title)
As a high-ranking knight, he corresponded to the 5th 6th circle if translated into mage terms, and 'Vanguard' referred to a special combat force equipped with the tactical gear known as 'Force Armor' and 'Force Sword.'
The Vanguard is the center of warfare and the first force considered when evaluating a nation's military power.
But no matter how impressive the Vanguard was, responding to me, the acting lord, was clearly insubordination.
If my escort knight Bison had been here right now, he would have made a huge scene.
"Sir Dalton. Watch your words."
But then, someone stepped in between us in place of Bison: the vice-captain of the knight order, Billyam, who until now had kept a low profile.
He was a Vanguard like Dalton, and the commander leading the knight order in this expedition.
"Isn't he just stating the truth? Your reputation is already bad enough as it is, yet you drag a woman along, and now you say you're going to play a game on the way to the battlefield. Well, I can kind of understand it since the woman's pretty."
"Hey, now."
When Sir Billyam glared at him with a murderous look in his eyes, the bear-like Dalton grimaced deeply and backed off.
"My subordinate has overstepped his bounds. I apologize."
Then Sir Billyam politely pointed at the game headgear, as if to say he understood everything.
"I believe a bit of entertainment is necessary during long hours of travel. I'm sure there are soldiers gathered somewhere playing cards, so there is no need for you, Acting Lord, to mind what your subordinates think."
Despite his manner of speech, his gaze was nothing but cold.
But I had never intended to care what they said in the first place.
"Send me a message when we arrive."
"Understood."
I headed to my private room without hesitation.
Arsia followed behind me as if it were only natural.
I could feel countless gazes stabbing into my back, but I was used to this sort of reaction, so I didn't even flinch.
* * *
[You have reached level 80.]
[You will be moved to a secret space by the god Ariel.]
While the injured train was headed toward our destination, I managed to reach level 80 and was transported to the first floor of Manuel Lucas's Magic Tower, where the chance encounters are managed.
Chance quests do not end just because you raise your level.
To fully clear the quest, you must subjugate a special named monster.
[Chance Quest, Stage 4]
Condition: Reach level 80 (cleared), "Subjugate Demi-Lich Emers"
Reward: Unlock the 5th floor of Manuel Lucas's Magic Tower
This time, a lich-type monster appeared, known for being a tricky hunt.
At least demi-liches are said to be dumber than regular liches and have slower casting speed.
"Welcome, prey."
However, the demi-lich that Arsia the supporter and I were about to face looked, to anyone's eyes, like a complete lich rather than some half-baked version.
That clear, articulate line was proof of it, and…
"Stone Curse! Icicle Lance!"
Whether it had prepared the cast in advance or not, before we could even assume battle stance, it showed cunning and quick reflexes by binding Arsia's legs with Stone Curse and firing the piercing spell Icicle Lance at me.
"Master!"
Arsia quickly broke free from the curse, but it looked difficult for her to also block the offensive spell aimed at me.
"Ugh!"
It would have been nice if I could at least use Salamander's Tears, but unfortunately this trial had to be overcome purely with my own abilities.
[Use of consumable offensive items such as bombs or scrolls is not allowed.]
It was a message I hadn't paid any attention to before, but now it felt like a painfully harsh rule.
-Thud!
"Gaaah!"
I threw myself to the side, but Icicle Lance still ended up piercing through my shoulder.
It was the worst pain I'd experienced since gaining the chance encounter, and my mind went blank, making it hard to stay sane.
"Hahahah! Where do you think you're going! Fireball!"
But the moment I heard the demi-lich's irritating laughter, its image overlapped in my mind with my nemesis, Cedric.
Now that I listened, wasn't its voice remarkably similar to Cedric's?
Then, strangely enough, the pain that had been crushing my entire body began to fade, strength naturally filled my fists, and my head felt clear.
-Whoosh!
In the meantime, a Fireball flew in with a loud roar, but I dodged out of its path with movements so agile I surprised even myself, and charged straight at the demi-lich.
-Kwaaang!
The Fireball exploded right behind me and seemed to push me forward, while Arsia, who had already caught up, ran ahead with her shield held firmly upright.
In that moment, I cast Healing, a 3rd-circle recovery spell, on the demi-lich.
Healing is a healing spell for humans, but against an undead lich, it becomes an excellent offensive spell.
"Graaah!"
The demi-lich, who had been so full of himself, screamed.
That delayed its casting, and I swung my magic staff and, together with Arsia, beat the demi-lich down.
"W-Why is a mage swinging a staff?!"
Apparently it never imagined I'd rushed in for close combat, and the demi-lich, greatly flustered, tried to cast another spell.
-Thud! Thud! Crack!
"Die! You Cedric-like bastard!"
However, getting pummeled 2-on-1 without a chance to breathe, the thing kept failing its casts, and once I granted light attribute to our equipment, the screams it let out in Cedric's voice grew louder and louder.
'How to deal with a lich most effectively when you don't have a priest.'
That is to gang up on it in close combat and administer a collective lynching.
"Gh! Firewall!"
Panicking at a response beyond its expectations, the lich desperately cast a spell: a 4th-circle Firewall meant to open up some distance.
I was a 3rd-circle mage, while the demi-lich I was fighting was using up to 4th-circle magic.
"Die!"
"Y-You lunatic?"
But I charged straight through the flames without hesitation and swung my staff.
It was an action taken in the firm belief that, as a mage, I could trust my own magic resistance and that this much wouldn't kill me.
-Smack!
"Aaagh!"
It felt like boiling oil was being poured over my entire body, but strangely, as soon as I heard its scream, the pain seemed to ebb away.
The sight of me rolling around from a single Icicle Lance had completely disappeared.
* * *
They say that when you fight, adrenaline is secreted and you don't feel pain very well.
Was that what was happening to me too?
"Graaah!"
Having successfully beaten the demi-lich to death together with Arsia, I let out a cheer.
But that cheer soon turned into a scream, because the moment my emotions, which had been revved up as if I'd become a berserker, calmed down, a shock like my whole body being slashed to pieces surged in all at once.
[You have cleared Chance Quest Stage 4.]
If hunting named monsters in the chance quests is meant as real combat experience, then this time I must have gone through it properly.
Maybe I looked pitiful, crawling on the floor?
Without asking for permission, Arsia opened my inventory and took out a Healing Potion, then fed it to me.
For a supporter to open her master's inventory of her own will.
That must mean she's just that special.
[The condition to unlock the next area of the Magic Tower has been met. The 5th floor of Manuel Lucas's Magic Tower will be opened.]
[Will you ascend to the 5th floor of Manuel Lucas's Magic Tower?]
Whether it was the effect of the Healing Potion, or adrenaline being secreted again because of that message, I didn't know, but the pain gradually subsided enough for me to stand up.
I nodded and headed to the new floor, where an even more splendid and majestic space welcomed me.
"Oh?"
But what caught my eye more than anything else was the treasure chest whose presence was the most distinct of all.