As I stared at the man who was looking at me while smiling, I stepped back. But I felt something I bumped into from behind.
I tried to slowly turn my face around, until I heard a voice coming from behind me.
"If you turn around, I'll stab this dagger into your neck, Klo Yuthnir."
I did as he said. I looked again to where the strange man was, but he had vanished.
Damn it, it's him.
I stood still for a long time, sweating heavily as my body trembled. The situation was suspicious and terrifying. Then the man walked in front of me laughing.
"If only you could see your face when you're scared."
He bowed his head down as he introduced himself.
"I am Duke Mershel, the one who invited you to the party, Mr. Yuthnir."
"Why did you do that?"
"It would've been boring if I didn't enjoy myself with the guest of honor."
I rolled my eyes toward Nevin, who was smiling with narrowed eyes directed at me and the duke.
Amid the silence, the duke raised his hand.
"I apologize, Mr. Yuthnir, but we'll meet shortly downstairs. So accept my apology."
The duke jumped down from the high place we were in to the group of guests below.
I looked at Nevin.
"Listen, Nevin. How do you use magic?"
"Hmm, big question coming from someone like you."
"Just answer."
"Simply imagine the element and try to manifest it."
That's it? I developed my abilities and most of my mana for hard training and in the end, it's that simple?
I tried what Nevin said. I closed my eyes and aimed my arm slightly downward, imagining wind coming out of my arm.
As I did that, I felt something flowing out, until I heard screaming.
I opened my eyes to find someone pushed against the wall and knocked out — and the funny part was, my arm was pointed in that direction. I quickly lowered it and turned my face as the crowd gathered around him, checking on him.
"What did you do, Yuthnir?" said Nevin.
"I didn't do anything."
I looked in another direction and found the duke standing on the wooden platform, looking at the attendees.
"Thank you all for attending this party. And as a token of my gratitude, enjoy yourselves as I introduce you to my future son-in-law."
Everyone started clapping.
Then the duke looked at me and called me up. What does he want from me this time?
Nevin and I descended until the duke gestured for me to go up on the platform.
Is he trying to brag that he knows the coming villain?
I did it. I stood before him until he wrapped his arm around me toward the crowd.
Don't do that — that's way too embarrassing.
"I present to you all my son-in-law."
Where is he?
I looked around and didn't see the expected person. I turned my head to the duke to ask.
"Who's your son-in-law?"
He stared at me with strange eyes. Could it be?
"My son-in-law is Klo Yuthnir. Yes, everyone — the upcoming villain."
Everyone was amazed and started clapping. That name had definitely passed by them before.
"You're joking, Duke?"
"No."
The duke drew his sword and looked at me.
"Come on, draw your sword, Yuthnir. Let's see if you're worthy of winning my daughter's heart."
I stepped off the platform, walking away from this crazy party.
"I don't deserve your daughter's heart. A terrible person like me isn't fit for a good girl."
Then I felt a sting in my neck.
A sword?!
I slowly looked back to find the duke with serious eyes.
"How about we play a game, Klo?"
A game?
"If you win, Klo, you can marry my daughter. If you lose, you die."
I felt fear. This man is seriously insane.
I'll probably lose my chance if the last save point was here. I hope it was in the castle if I die.
"I accept."
"That's the man, Yuthnir."
Everyone cleared the space where we'd duel.
I hope I don't disappoint the abilities I've developed — I spent all my C points.
I drew my sword as usual, and when the duke saw it, he started whistling.
"My son-in-law has the legendary sword Ignis. That's exciting."
As if I deserve it with my lousy skills — I can't even wave an olive branch properly.
We both raised our swords and rushed at each other.
Our swords clashed, creating the sound of impact and light sparks of flame.
I felt my blood being drained by the sword.
In the middle of our clash, Duke Mershel used magic — the water element — to splash my face and exploit my temporary blindness. But the reaction speed upgrade I made gave me a chance.
I raised my hand to block the water, then lowered it and pointed toward the duke to create a hole using earth magic the way Nevin taught me.
But the duke isn't a pushover either — he grabbed me and pulled me down into the hole so he could escape.
As I fell, I placed my hand below me to use wind and get out of the situation, returning to the battle platform.
It was just me and the duke left, panting, staring at each other with smiles.
Then he lunged to deliver a fatal strike, but I tricked him into thinking I was exhausted. He doesn't know I have a system and gain abilities easily — unlike him, who trains for them.
I'm a cheating fraud.
Before he could strike, I grabbed his sword with my hand, smiling.
"Is that all you've got, Duke?"
The sound of breaking.
Yes — the duke's sword. And the culprit was me.
The duke collapsed to the ground, amazed that I could fight him. He looked at me with wide eyes.
But I extended my hand to help him up.
"You were right. You are the only man worthy of my daughter."
"Sorry, but I'm the opposite."
"No — you just proved to everyone you're not a bad person. If you were, you would've killed me or humiliated me. But you undervalue yourself and respect me, even after knowing I was toying with you."
If you hadn't been playing, you would've gone for lethal strikes.
The duke turned his head to one of the dark entrances.
"Come in, Luna — your husband is waiting."
Don't call me that!
Out came a girl with honey-colored eyes with circular patterns in them, and medium-length gray hair that covers her face unless you look closely. A light scar was on her cheek. She wore a green dress with white gems, as if from the Victorian era from my world, with a light hat and a flower-shaped hairpin on one strand.
The duke's daughter — whom I never even wrote.
"This is my daughter, Luna, Klo Yuthnir."
So everything I wrote just lives normally and not as it was written.
That's amazing, but also depressing.
My goal isn't to enjoy life — it's to return to my world.
Ding~
[Congratulations]
"A new member has joined your party."
_ 100 C
Lona stepped forward, her dress brushing along the clean tile floor.
She bowed respectfully.
"Nice to meet you, noble man, Klo Yuthnir. I'm honored to be your wife."
Me? Noble man? That's hilarious.
I bowed to Luna as well.
"Nice to meet you, Luna."
Ugh.
How did we get here? I came as a guest to a party and left married. Andrew's going to love this when I return.
I looked at the girls I brought with me — all of them were crying.
Why are you crying?!
Nevin, Elithia, Lynette?
What's happening — like I'm their little brother or something.
The duke came over and patted my shoulder.
"How about a gift for your wife?"
Suddenly, I remembered the ring the system gave me when I saved Elithia and myself.
Damn you. So you knew all along.
I opened the system interface and my bag to get the ring.
When it appeared, it was a diamond ring.
If I had checked it earlier, I would've sold it.
I handed it to Luna normally — then Nevin punched me on the head.
I glared at her.
"Why?"
"Is that how you give your wife a gift?!"
Who said I'm okay with this marriage?
I slid the ring onto her finger, and everyone started clapping.
I wish I hadn't reincarnated into this world. I wish I hadn't written this story.
Story?
Why not start a project with Nevin to write and sell stories?
They don't exist in this world, right? In my old world, we wrote fantasy stories — here, I write realistic ones.
Hehehe.
...
After we all returned from the party, I entered the castle, exhausted from the day's insane events.
I dragged myself to my room, and when I opened the door, I found Luna there.
I closed the door and walked toward the chair to sleep on it.
How long will I stay like this?
I opened the system and went to the party section to find Luna there with the others.
_Goldsky Luna
I clicked on her name and was stunned by the abilities and power she held in her arsenal.