Clang!
The bandit's rusty sword met the black blade of [Nightfang]. The difference in quality was stark; the cheap sword cracked with a single impact, making the bandit stare in terror.
"W-what...?!"
I pushed him back with one hand.
Good grief… is this what it feels like to kick an ant? Even a dungeon raid is more challenging than this. Hey readers, this doesn't even count as a tutorial. It's just a bonus stage to test my strength.
Swosh!
I darted forward, [Shadow Step] blurring my movements. In an instant, I was behind the second bandit.
"Skill Activate: [Moon Fang Slash]."
Shiiing!
The sword blade streaked, leaving a crescent moon glow in the air. The bandit screamed, his sword split in two, and his body collapsed with a gaping wound.
Thud!
The two remaining bandits looked at each other, their faces white.
"D-damn it! This guy's crazy! Run!"
They turned to flee, but I was already blocking their path.
"Hey, hey, are you just going to leave? How impolite. I haven't even broken a sweat yet."
If my heroine Angelene saw this scene, there would definitely be a slow-motion cutscene with dramatic music. But sadly, all I get is the smell of this rotten bandit's sweat.
Swosh!
I slashed quickly, taking down another one.
Thud!
The last one fell to the ground, his body trembling violently.
"Spare me… I was just following orders! I don't know anything about the girl!"
I pointed the tip of my sword at his neck.
"...Too bad. I'm not the type of benevolent protagonist who lets villains live for the next chapter. That's too cliché."
Shing!
Splurt!
My sword severed his head, blood splattering onto the ground. The bandit lay motionless.
Huff…
I flicked my sword, cleaning off the bloodstains.
"Thank you…! Thank you very much, Sir…!"
A gentle voice made me turn. The brown-haired girl who was being chased now stood with a trembling body. Her green eyes were teary, and her dress was dusty and torn. Her face was pale, but still charming.
Oho… look at this. It's the heroine encounter event. Yes, I know otome game patterns inside and out. After being saved, the heroine will slowly fall in love. Perfect. Absolutely perfect!
I sheathed my sword and approached her.
"No need to thank me. They were just street trash."
She bowed deeply. "I… I don't know how I can repay your kindness, Sir. My name is..."
Ding!
[Heroine Encounter: Marian Elford]
[Affinity: 5%]
I stared blankly for a moment.
"...Huh? Affinity?"
The blue system screen popped up, displaying the girl's face complete with an Affinity status.
Oh, this is amazing. So my Hunter System is now actually merging with the otome game mechanics? Seriously? So I can raise the heroine's Affinity like grinding EXP? Hahaha! This world truly knows what I want!
Marian looked at me confused. "Sir…? Are you alright?"
I smiled faintly. "Fine. Very fine."
Inside, I was laughing maniacally.
Hahaha! The original protagonist? Forget him! I, Reginald Arvand, S-Rank Hunter and otome maniac, will conquer all the heroines. Marian Elford, you are just the beginning. Angelene, my beloved, is also waiting. And all of you… are mine!
Rustle!
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps came from deep within the forest. Marian let out a small shriek, her face growing even paler.
"S-someone else…?!"
I turned, and from behind the trees emerged a tall, massive figure in heavy armor with a giant sword. Its metal helmet gleamed under the twilight light.
[Elite Enemy Detected: Black Knight]
I raised an eyebrow.
Oh? So this game immediately throws a miniboss at the start? Heh, interesting. Alright, let's see if your script is strong enough to take down Reginald Arvand.
I stepped forward, my sword drawn.
"Marian, step back. The show is just beginning."
Doom… doom… doom…
The ground trembled every time the Black Knight stepped out of the darkness of the forest. The giant sword on its shoulder shimmered faintly, dripping dry blood that had clung to it for who knows how long. A thick black aura emanated from its body, making the surrounding air icy cold.
Marian let out a small scream, her body rigid with fear. "That… that's the Cursed Knight… legend says it hunts anyone who gets lost in this forest!"
I glanced at her. "Heh, if he has a cool name like that, it means the EXP is worth it."
Good grief, this is really like a miniboss event in the game prologue. But seriously, who puts a crazy miniboss like this in front of the first heroine? The balancing system is messed up.
Clang!
I drew the black sword [Nightfang].
"Alright, let's play for a bit."
The Black Knight slowly raised its huge sword, then BOOM! brought it down toward me.
Whoooosh!
Craaaaash!
The ground where I stood was completely destroyed, dust flying up into the sky.
"Whoa, what a slow-motion entrance, huh? Do you think this is an E3 trailer?"
I jumped back using [Shadow Step], reappearing on the Black Knight's right side.
"Skill Activate: [Moon Fang Slash]!"
Shiiing!
The moonlight shot out, hitting the enemy's black armor. But it only caused a shallow scratch.
"...What?"
Seriously? My slash only made a tiny scratch? Hey system, don't joke with me!
Ding!
[System Notification: Enemy possesses Passive Skill – Iron Fortress. Damage reduced by 90%.]
I clicked my tongue. "Of course. A miniboss must have a cheat passive. Damn it."
The Black Knight turned quickly, its sword swinging towards my head.
Clang!
I parried, but the impact made my hand tremble. Its raw strength was enormous.
Okay, if that's the case, I have to be more serious. No more messing around.
I jumped into the air. "Skill Activate: [Dark Nova Burst]!"
Booooom!
A black light explosion erupted from my sword, striking the Black Knight's body. Black flames devoured the surrounding trees.
Gwaaaaargh!
The monster roared, its body staggering.
Marian screamed, hiding behind a tree.
I landed, raising my sword. "Heh, you're not as tough as you look."
Ding!
[ERROR: Damage Calculation Failed]
[ERROR: Applying Random Effect]
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, the Black Knight stopped moving. The black aura on its body flickered, then... pop! its helmet exploded like a balloon.
Pshhhhh!
From inside, its head was empty. The armor remained standing, then slowly began to move its sword again.
"...Hey, seriously? A headless armor doll? Is this a parody?"
I snorted, then advanced again.
Swosh!
The fight continued. I slashed, I stabbed, but every one of my attacks only caused a small scratch. The Black Knight seemed immune.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew.
Marian shouted from a distance. "B-be careful, Sir! It can't be defeated in the usual way!"
I glanced at her while parrying. "Oh, you know the boss fight spoiler? That's great. Please continue."
Boom!
The Black Knight's sword strike hit the ground, creating a small crater.
I retreated quickly. My breathing remained steady, but my heart was pounding not from fear... but from anticipation.
Okay, honestly. This is fun. More exciting than a dungeon raid. Because there's a heroine watching, and every slash I make might raise her Affinity. Haha, just look at her pale face, it's truly magnificent!
Ding!
[Affinity with Marian Elford +5%. Current: 10%]
I smiled. "Perfect."
The Black Knight suddenly knelt, its armor shaking violently.
[System Notification: Enemy HP critical]
[ERROR: Boss Script not found]
[Applying Fallback Event…]
A red light enveloped its body. The armor cracked, and thick black smoke poured out from within.
"...Oh, this definitely isn't part of a normal tutorial."
The Black Knight raised its sword, this time its black aura was thicker, swallowing the surrounding light.
Marian screamed loudly. "T-that's… its true form!"
I looked at the scene, then raised my sword.
"Heh. In that case, let's prove who the real final boss is here."
Swosh!
I jumped forward, the light of my sword shining brightly.
Dooooom!
The Black Knight's black aura roared, pressing down on the surrounding air until the trees collapsed one by one. From the cracked armor, a burst of dense smoke emerged, as if pure darkness had been given form.
I looked at it with a smirk. "Heh, so this is called the second phase. Typical game boss. I like it."
But seriously, system… you really intended to kill me from the start of this isekai, didn't you?
Ding!
[System Notification: WARNING. Boss entered Berserk Mode.]
[Skill: Abyssal Howl] Activated. All stats increased by 200%.]
"...Two hundred percent? Okay, that's not even balancing anymore. The developer must have been drunk."
The Black Knight raised its sword to the sky. A black aura coiled around it like a wild dragon, then BOOOOM! it struck down towards me.
Zwaaaaash!
Craaaaaash!
The ground split for dozens of meters, creating a chasm. I leaped into the air, my body spinning, then plunged my sword into the ground to absorb the impact.
"Whoa, almost got pancaked. Thanks system, I'm even more sure this is hard mode."
I activated a skill. "[Phantom Mirage]!"
My body glowed, creating three illusionary shadows that rushed the Black Knight from three directions.
Swosh! Swosh! Swosh!
The creature slashed at the first shadow. Clang! The second shadow stabbed the left side. The third shadow slashed from above.
But...
BOOOOM!
The black aura exploded from the Black Knight's body, destroying all illusions in a single push.
"...Okay, note taken. Illusion = trash."
I sighed. "Alright. In that case, let's try my favorite RNG."
Ding!
[ERROR: Skill Unavailable. Applying Random Effect…]
[You received: Skill – Divine Smite (temporary).]
"...WHAT?!"
Suddenly, my sword emitted a pure golden light. It was no longer a sword of darkness, but a holy weapon of the paladins.
The Black Knight staggered, the black smoke on its body shaking violently.
Seriously? You gave me an anti-darkness skill right when I'm fighting a darkness boss? Hahaha, okay, this coincidence is highly suspicious.
I jumped high. "Heh, in that case…"
My sword shone brighter and brighter.
"Divine Smite!!!"
Zwaaaaash!
The golden light slashed the Black Knight's body from top to bottom.
BOOOOOOOOM!
A devastating explosion annihilated its black aura, blasting its armor into pieces. The shockwave hit the entire forest, causing leaves to fall like a storm.
Gwaaaaaargh!!!
A final roar echoed before its body crumbled into ash.
Shiiiing…
Silence.
I stood in the middle of the crater, my sword still faintly glowing. My breathing was heavy, but I couldn't suppress a satisfied smile.
"Heh. And that's how you defeat the tutorial boss… with a cheat that wasn't even mine. Thanks, bugged system."
Ding!
[Quest Completed: Protect the Maiden]
[Reward: 10,000 EXP. Item Acquired – Abyss Core Shard.]
[Affinity with Marian Elford +25%. Current: 35%]
I blinked. "...Huh, quite a big jump. Heroines really are easy to conquer with a bit of drama."
Swosh!
Marian ran up to me, her face full of emotion. "Sir… you… you were incredible. I've never seen anyone fight like that before."
I raised an eyebrow. "Heh, you must not watch much shounen anime, right?"
She looked at me confused, not understanding at all. I coughed lightly, covering it up with a smile.
"Well, the important thing is I'm safe, and you're safe. That's what matters, isn't it?"
Marian bowed deeply, her face flushed. "I… I don't know how to thank you. But… I owe you my life."
Oho, the heroine flag is perfectly set. Absolutely textbook otome route.
I let out a long sigh, staring at the night sky that was beginning to calm down.
"...But still, this is just the beginning. If the tutorial boss is this crazy, I can't imagine how bad the other heroine routes will be."
Ding!
[ERROR: Hidden Scenario Unlocked.]
[WARNING: System instability rising. Preparing forced synchronization.]
I froze. "...Hey, don't joke around. What do you mean by forced synchronization?"
Suddenly, a white light burst from the Abyss Core Shard in my hand.
Bzzzzttt… Fwoooosh!
The light enveloped my vision.