"GET UP NOW, YOU LAZY BONES!"
*Jesus Christ!*
I tumbled out of bed, heart hammering. Someone had broken into my house—I needed my shotgun.
The sheet was tangled around me. I had to move fast. Where was my bat?
No. Not there.
Fine.
Preemptive strike it is.
"Take this!" I threw a punch toward the source of the voice.
My fist sank into something incredibly soft, elastic, and…
"AAAAH!" Hey, that's a woman's voice.
I yanked the sheet off and finally took in my surroundings.
This wasn't my house.
Wait… what was my name again?
"Jakob," the woman said.
No. That wasn't right.
I am… hey…
Who the hell am I?
"Wait a minute." I recognized that voice. I'd heard it in countless games. "Armine."
My head finally cleared.
The beautiful half-giant girl had fallen to the floor on all fours.
At any other time, the sight of Armine would have been a feast for the eyes. But right now, I could only feel a hollow ache in my chest.
Against all odds, I was still in this world.
"You took me by surprise," Armine said, her tone strangely soft. She looked me in the eye. "I didn't expect you to react like that. Honestly, it was a shock."
Shock? You barged into my room screaming at the top of your lungs.
Setting that aside.
"Armine," I said, a hint of exasperation slipping into my voice.
Naturally, I was a healthy young man. Armine was a beauty beyond reason, standing in my room like it was nothing.
That meant she either didn't see me as a man at all, or I simply wasn't a threat to her.
Both possibilities were depressing.
"Nyoh?" Armine tilted her head, looking confused.
"What are you doing here?"
Her face turned serious. Instinctively, I took a step back.
"Your training." She stood up, and once again I was reminded that this girl was a half-giant warrior. "You might not know it, but we giants take the advancement of our strength and physique very seriously. Since you asked for my help, I'm ready to bring out every bit of your potential."
The room was barely lit by moonlight filtering through the window. In the dim glow, Armine's golden eyes shone with a mystical light.
I swallowed the nerves that had gathered in my throat.
"I…"
"Don't think it will be easy. I'm telling you now so you don't regret it later." Armine's large hand gripped my shoulder. Her serious gaze made me realize how much I had underestimated her. "There's still time to back out."
Something inside me stirred at the pity and compassion in her eyes.
Back out?
I clenched my right hand tightly.
I had always been competitive—even before becoming a streamer. A wild smile spread across my face.
It wasn't like I had many other options right now.
"Armine Kraftvollarm," I said, looking her straight in the eyes with the most brazen expression I could muster, "I'm clay in your hands. Forge something worthy out of me."
At my spirit, Armine smiled.
….
…
..
.
"Aah… aah… aaah."
I breathed hard, my body heavier than it had ever been.
The first exercise had been six laps of 28 kilometers through the Academy's inner forest—all while dragging massive rubber tires tied to my waist and carrying a backpack full of stones.
All of it before sunrise. The cold dawn air clashed with the heat radiating from my body.
I somehow finished the six laps, but I felt like my body was about to collapse.
I stood bent over, hands on my knees.
"Impressive," Armine said from the side.
I looked over and immediately felt inadequate.
Weights hung from her hands, feet, and shoulders. Just the equipment she wore was five times what I was carrying.
Earlier, I had tried lifting one of those weights and couldn't even budge it.
"You say that, yet you make my effort look like a joke," I said, knowing it was the absolute truth.
Armine looked at me sternly.
Without her glasses and with her hair tied up, she looked even more beautiful than usual.
To make matters worse, she was wearing tight workout gear that made it very hard to keep a clear head.
A two-meter-tall girl with toned, firm muscles was, at first glance, incredibly attractive.
"You're just starting," she said in a voice that left no room for argument. "I've spent years following an exercise plan made specifically for me. Even so, completing that on your first try is a real achievement."
I smiled tiredly.
"I didn't want to disappoint you." Also, I just didn't want to give up. The old Jakob had never put real effort into anything. I would do the exact opposite of what he would have done. "Thanks, Armine."
The half-giant smiled at me tenderly.
How cute.
"I'm glad to hear that, but we're just getting started, Jakob."
Of course. I expected nothing less.
I smiled wearily.
"Fine. I'd be disappointed if it were any other way."
….
…
..
.
"996… 997… 998… 999…"
I had chosen dual-wielding for the future, but swinging both weighted swords in the training hall made me seriously question that decision.
I delivered the final double thrust into the air. My arms burned like hell.
Internally, I smiled. The old Jakob had hated this kind of training because of his father. But I wasn't him.
If any part of him still lingered inside me, I hoped he was watching how stupid his old ways had been.
"1997… 1998… 1999… 2000."
"Impressive."
First came weightlifting, then an hour with the training dummy, and finally a thousand slashes in the air.
Once again, I was painfully aware of the massive gap between Armine and me.
While I was swinging two short swords and felt like my arms were about to fall off, she remained perfectly calm, swinging a blunt copy of her favorite weapon—a bastard sword of absurd proportions.
No. It was more like a sharpened slab of metal too large to be called a sword.
The kind of weapon you'd see in a dark fantasy manga.
Dark fantasy…
I remembered why Armine was one of the least-used heroines in the fandom: her tragic resolve.
As the daughter of the Queen of Giants (I tip my hat to the man who managed to bed her mother and live to tell the tale), she was considered the union of two species favored by the King of Souls.
After discovering Helal's lie, the giant race had isolated itself from the world. One of the most powerful races sat out the World War.
Except for Armine.
She had her own route—a tragic story of its own. During the battle for the Holy City, Helal cursed her, binding her soul to [The Devouring Beast] for defying his decree to destroy an entire city.
Anyone caught in the middle of her [Royal Road] would suffer heavy debuffs.
From there, everything would go downhill for her.
Her only hope was Aeono.
"I'm impressed," Armine's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"Eh?" I noticed she was still swinging her sword while speaking.
With every movement, her… very giant attributes were doing very distracting things. It was hard to maintain concentration.
"You've kept up better than I expected," she said, still swinging. "Also, your choice of weapon is unusual."
I glanced at my dual blades. Since I wasn't the protagonist, it was practically impossible for me to catch the attention of any heroine.
Armine didn't count. The chances of someone like me making her fall in love were less than zero.
For all practical purposes, I was in a Hardcore Run.
"I think it suits me," I said.
I'll focus on speed and physical strength. I can handle resistance with amulets or armor.
Armine stopped swinging and leaned her massive sword against the wall with a heavy…
THOOM.
"Do you want to impress someone at the entrance ceremony?" She crossed her arms under her chest, the sweat on her body creating a very erotic image.
I smiled.
"Other than you?" I asked playfully.
"Nyoh!" Armine flinched, her face turning red.
Hey, no need to look that disgusted.
"Sorry," I said sincerely. "That was a joke in poor taste. It was unpleasant."
Both in my previous life and now, in control of Jakob's body, I knew the truth.
There was no way a woman as exceptional as Armine—or any heroine, really—would fall for someone like me.
"...Was it a joke?" Her tone suddenly promised pain.
It was time to be completely honest.
"You are possibly the most beautiful woman I have ever met." I checked Jakob's memories. It was true. He had met noblewomen, but none had ever bothered to truly see him.
That counted as irredeemably ugly in his book.
Even my ex from my old life would have known Armine was far out of her league.
"Seriously?" She sounded doubtful.
You're literally a protagonist of this world.
I sighed internally. Better to set some boundaries now.
"Without a doubt. That's why I know your destiny is greater than anyone can imagine." Among the 120, I'm willing to help you become the Goddess of this world. "In the future, you will be one of the most important people alive."
In fact, it would be very beneficial for me. Having a Goddess as a friend would make life much easier.
"...You sound very sure." Armine looked at me with disbelief. "But at least I know you're not the type to hold back your words."
With that, she shouldered her practice sword.
"Are we done here?" I asked.
The half-giant nodded, turning her back to me.
Nice view.
"It's time to eat," she said calmly.
….
…
..
.
I stared at the plate in front of me: boiled vegetables, a mountain of pasta, and meat.
I hadn't eaten breakfast, so naturally I was hungry, but I wasn't sure I could finish all of it.
"It's important that you follow a proper diet for your training," Armine said. Her own plate was piled high with meat, bread, and chocolate-covered desserts.
"I understand." I took a bite of a boiled potato. Like everything else I'd eaten here, it was delicious. "I'm not complaining, but I have a question."
"Go ahead."
I noticed more students were starting to fill the Banquet Hall. Little by little, the extras and important characters were arriving.
"What do you know about cleaning the drainage system?" I asked, scanning the hall for any heroine or NPC who might offer early quests. I needed to complete the easy missions before Aeono showed up.
"The drainage?" Armine looked slightly puzzled. "They usually use the fire-cleaning system for pests…"
They kill vermin with fire?
Talk about hardcore.
"...Well, I've heard rumors lately that there are problems with some rats and—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
She had just entered through the central doors.
Black hair with a long fringe that covered her eyes and reached past her waist.
Ghostly pale skin.
Lips red as blood.
A body too voluptuous to be hidden by her uniform. Long black stockings covered her legs.
I felt a knot form in my stomach. I forced my attention back to Armine.
I must not get involved. Leave that Pandora's box for the protagonist.
"Too many problems," I said without thinking.
"More or less. Anyway, I was planning to offer to take a look down there," Armine said while eating.
It seemed that not paying attention had led me to the perfect opening.
"Hey, can I go with you?" The pasta really was excellent; it wasn't just the hunger talking.
Armine paused between bites.
"You want to go to the sewers?" She looked at me as if I had grown a second head.
"I want to help the Academy a little." It wasn't a complete lie. Killing the rat would help me and turn a profit.
Armine arched an eyebrow, doubt clear on her face.
"That sounds very hard to believe." She valued honesty and could detect lies easily.
I sighed, realizing the lore here was very literal.
"I want combat experience," I said directly. "It would be very advantageous to go with you. I wouldn't have anything to worry about."
Armine smiled sweetly.
"Better. Although your reason is still something I didn't expect." A sarcastic smile formed on her lips. "It doesn't seem very noble to go down into the filthy sewers."
I checked Jakob's memories.
Pride—what a useless thing.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with taking pride in your achievements. But Jakob was a special case.
Born as a minor noble, he had developed an oversized ego. Being the youngest of nine siblings and the least talented had left him deeply frustrated.
In other circumstances, I might have pitied him, but…
"Filthy half-breed!"
"Disgusting commoner!"
"Worthless rat."
Jakob, you were only noble by title…
Aside from that, you were nothing more than a bully.
"Hey, it's as believable as you going down there," I told Armine with a playful smile.
She looked at me with suspicion.
"What do you mean?"
I put my right hand to my chin, pretending to think deeply.
"What is a beautiful damsel doing going down to such a filthy place?" I smiled honestly.
Armine remained silent. I saw her face turn red. I sighed internally.
Let's set these bad jokes aside.
"In any case, I want to accompany you on that exploration." That rat would be easy.
Armine's gaze turned serious immediately.
"You are in no condition to do that. To be honest, if you came with me, you would undoubtedly be a hindrance."
Ouch.
The good thing was that she was completely honest.
"I understand that. So tell me: how long would it take me to stop being a hindrance?" I was willing to give everything to make real progress before Aeono arrived.
Armine stared at me for a few seconds, took a bite of her food, and seemed to meditate deeply.
"With the pace we're going… in two weeks you can reach an acceptable level."
Two weeks.
Fine. I had no way of knowing what my parameters were in this reality.
"Alright," I said calmly. "In two weeks, we'll go together."
I noticed Armine's cheeks turning slightly red.
"...You seem very interested in accompanying me."
Naturally. Without you, my chances of success would be much lower.
"You are indispensable to me right now."
Again, Armine turned red.
"...Idiot…"
I am, without a doubt.
….
…
..
.
After lunch, we continued the routine. The next stop was the academy's pool.
"Right, there are dates and +18 scenes in this place," I muttered under my breath, making sure my trainer didn't hear me.
"You'll do several laps, then lift weights, and that will be it for the day," Armine said in a professional tone as she slowly climbed out of the pool.
The water cascading over her hair and body made her look incredible.
*I curse you, eroge world.*
"I understand," I said and entered the water.
Swimming was one of the things I had enjoyed in my old world.
As I floated, my mind cleared.
Will anyone in my original world care about my disappearance? Maybe for a while, then they'll forget me.
My father and I had never been close.
I had no real relationship with my siblings. My ex was still on her "self-discovery trip" in Europe.
I didn't have many regrets about this turn of events, but I wished some things had come with me.
I hope my fans find a new streamer to listen to.
I needed to focus on creating a favorable future for myself. My ideas so far were barely sketches on paper.
Main goal: Do not be defeated or humiliated by Aeono.
If I could change that, I could calmly focus on the rest of the game's plot.
The first part was a mix of academy life and exploration around this side of the world. Then the real conflict would begin.
In theory, Aeono should still be in his starting region.
With any luck, he might face the secret boss early, making him even more dangerous to me.
I was never religious, but I prayed that Aeono wasn't one of those absurdly overpowered protagonists from the start.
I got out of the water and looked at my reflection.
I really was pale as snow, with red eyes that glowed brightly.
I searched Jakob's memories.
Why on earth does he look like a vampire?
Great. Now I wanted to vomit.
Inbreeding was very common in Erdeder Gnade. The Liedschlag family had imitated the monarchies of my old world out of fear of losing power.
In the end, it had been for nothing. The Liedschlags had lost most of their influence.
Jakob, thank God you didn't turn out to be a psychopath.
Wait…
I hadn't thought about it before, but… why was I Jakob? I didn't know the rules of transmigration, but it felt strange.
Still, it was a good thing for me. I wasn't world-savior material like Aeono.
I thought of all the times I had died in my [Kings Roads] playthroughs.
I didn't know what kind of person Aeono truly was, but the future of this world rested on his shoulders.
That left me torn between hoping he was as competent as possible and hoping he picked a heroine quickly.
Armine—if she became the Goddess of this world…
"Is something wrong?" the half-giant called from the side.
"No, nothing." Just my useless thoughts that refused to leave me.
She looked at me doubtfully.
"Are you sure?"
It was strange having someone ask those kinds of questions.
"Yes." My voice came out drier than I intended.
"Okay then. You did more laps than expected. I was worried; you seemed to be in a trance."
Something warm spread through my chest. It had been a long time since someone had said something like that.
I smiled.
"Thanks. Shall we continue with the weights?"
Armine returned the smile.
"That's the spirit."
….
…
..
.
One thing I did after finishing the lifting was explore the castle.
Armine usually studied for classes that hadn't started yet. I, on the other hand, had decided to be completely irresponsible and explore this fortress instead.
There were mysteries and items I could obtain, and I didn't plan to waste the opportunity.
I went to the inner forest—a cold place filled with large pines.
After five minutes of searching, I found a tree with a notable hollow where the wind produced a soft sound.
It wasn't hard to reach it and slip my right hand inside.
Something wrapped around my index finger. I smiled. When I pulled my hand out, a metal ring rested there.
Good.
This was the [Ring of the Destined]; it exponentially increased my speed.
Climbing down, I tried to calculate my hypothetical parameters.
…No, it was useless. Trying to reduce my strength to numbers was nonsense.
It was a disaster, no doubt. Jakob hadn't even been that good in his original orientation (Minor Arcane), a mix of sword and staff.
Now that I had changed the build to dual-wielding, I was even more adrift than if I had been in Aeono's body.
Regarding magic, despite studying Soul Magic, Jakob had only learned three spells.
Three.
{Valior}: Temporarily increased strength.
{Defiance}: Temporarily increased resistance.
{Purity}: Cleared the mind, cured status ailments like panic and fear, and recovered some stamina.
For now, it was quite a lot.
My feet touched the ground. I looked toward the tower where Zofia should be. Bluish smoke rose from the chimney.
I didn't know what could produce that color, but I refused to fall into the trap of trying to understand this world's logic.
I turned around.
A few meters away stood the same girl from the Banquet Hall.
It was hard to tell if she was looking at me with her hair covering her eyes.
God.
This was awkward.
"Excuse me." I decided enough was enough and turned toward the castle.
"Do you know me?"
Her voice stopped me mid-step. I felt nervous.
"No," I said without facing her, trying to continue on my way.
"You're lying," she said, her tone desperate and annoyed.
I'm sorry, but your destiny is tied to Aeono's. Even if I wanted to interact with you, it's simply not a good idea.
"I'm sorry, I don't know you at all, miss." I kept walking, trying to ignore her.
Her voice, full of emotion, reached me anyway.
"...Please…"
I closed my eyes, wishing I hadn't heard that sob.
I can't help you. I'm not the hero you're waiting for.
Shit. Now I understood a bit of the complaint that you can't save everyone in the game.
"...It does no good worrying about things I can't change."
It left a bad taste in my mouth, but…
What was I supposed to do?
I wasn't the hero.
I didn't turn around. I kept walking forward. Little by little, I left the inner forest and reached the castle gates.
On the wall that greeted the students was a display case for swords and trophies. I looked at the map of this world and felt a slight chill.
The moment would come when, because of a lie, a devout priest, and a woman in love, the world would burn.
In the name of honor, glory, justice, and the King of Souls himself, blood would flow like a river.
"It matters little that God has gone, for man now raises other altars…"
I didn't remember who said that, but it encapsulated the situation of this world perfectly.
Ultimately, this world only belonged to someone…
The sunset cast my shadow over the world map like a dark stain. I should start thinking about a remote island to live on.
"I'm not even a piece on the board." I told myself this as I walked to my room.
I must not fall into the trap of believing that my presence here necessarily changed anything.
Tonight, I would concentrate on reading the book to get the buff.
….
…
..
.
Apparently, I needed to finish the reading if I wanted its buff.
Magnificent.
Well, at least my routine was well-structured.
And so, in the blink of an eye, two weeks passed without any major issues.
"So…" I began, placing the dual swords back in their rack and stretching my muscles. "Am I ready now?"
For comfort, I was now wearing a tight black t-shirt and loose white training pants.
I had to admit: I had grown fond of this training.
"...You've improved quite a bit," Armine said calmly as she walked around me, her eyes examining my body.
Armine was a competent teacher.
I had adapted to the pace with effort, gradually increasing the weight and difficulty.
"Can I join you for the sewer run now?" I smiled with some hesitation. She looked me in the eyes searchingly.
Damn, she'd make a great professor.
"All right," she finally said, adjusting her sword on her back. "But I need to speak with the director. I'll see you later; we'll meet near sunset."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Usually, the danger level of bosses increased at night. Besides… weren't the rats more active at night?
I'd prefer to attack my enemy when they were at their weakest.
"No. You're going with me. Nothing will happen to you."
Long ago in my original life, I had heard that some people were simply different—better than the rest.
It was nonsense, but considering this world was originally fiction, Armine was a key character.
It was normal for her to have uncommon confidence and charisma.
I couldn't help but have faith in her.
"You're right," I said with a smile. It wasn't worth feeling doubt or fear as long as Armine was with me.
"That was fast." Armine looked amused. With her arms crossed, she seemed very accustomed to my personality. "Well, go on ahead. I have to adjust a few things before we go down to the sewers."
My friend went to shower and change into her uniform in the girls' locker room.
I decided to do the same. As the shower water fell over me, I realized how much I was adapting to this life.
*Is this normal? Should I be this calm?*
Well…
I remembered Armine's build in the game. Her Brumme armor hadn't been created yet, so she would be using her early-game gear.
"Well, I'll take the rest of the day off."
With my uniform on and an atrocious hunger, I walked toward the Banquet Hall.
Since today would be my first experience with real combat, I should take it easy.
Sitting down, I greeted Aife at her station. After a few days, I had realized I shouldn't lose my cool just because I had drunk the milk of someone I barely knew…
…Self-deception is key to maintaining sanity.
That, and after a while, I noticed the rest of the students already here kept their distance.
I suppose it was inevitable. Many of the nobles present were replacements or heirs of minor houses. They had come to join factions of their respective nations and secure decent positions.
There were three groups:
First: Those seeking vassalage under a powerful lord or, in the case of women, a halfway decent marriage.
Second: Those seeking business with future lords or alliances through marriage or assassination.
Third: Those who didn't come for any faction but to become independent from their families. A graduate here had a future as a soldier, mercenary, or protector.
So these were the least important nobles of all. Hostilities had likely already formed, and cards had been laid on the table.
I didn't fully understand them, but I understood why none would bother trying to form an authentic friendship.
Politics.
"Do you want something special today, cutie?" Without me noticing, Aife appeared in front of me with a kind smile.
Aife was a nice person, second only to Armine.
"Surprise me," I said with a smile. She winked at me conspiratorially.
While I waited for my food, I went through Jakob's memories.
'You are a disgrace; I regret giving birth to you.' Jeez, lady, you don't say that to a ten-year-old.
Jakob's mother was a bitch, no doubt.
'Come on, little brother, squeal like a piglet for me.'
His older brother and heir was also a piece of work.
God.
I searched the boy's memories for anything that made his life remotely tolerable.
Mmm… turns out Jakob liked playing the piano.
I guess I could try to play a piece for what was left of him. A requiem, perhaps.
That reminded me.
Primrose, as a commoner, would have trouble fully understanding what went on in this Academy.
As a hunter, she would be in the forest until the start of the school year, honing her skills and somehow leading more than half the fandom to conclude she had become a person lacking common sense.
The rest of the waifus and important NPCs hadn't arrived yet. It made sense; this Academy was in the literal center of the continent.
Gwyndon, the nation of the White Dragon.
…I could try to get the White Dragon's blessing now that I thought about it.
No.
Better not. That might weaken Aeono too much.
"Can I sit here?"
I looked at the person speaking.
Long black hair tied in a ponytail, red eyes, tanned skin. The uniform and a serious expression.
Hey, I know you.
"Be my guest."
He sat in front of me with his arms crossed, appearing to analyze me thoroughly.
"You don't look like much," he said after a few seconds.
I smiled. Of course I didn't. I was just a footnote.
"Thanks. You look pretty average too."
He arched an eyebrow, then looked at me with boredom.
"A hunter with orange hair and a predator's gaze said there was someone interesting in this school full of bootlickers and cowards." He gave me a look of disbelief. "I think you're just her type."
God, please no.
"I was just kind to her when she was in trouble," I said with a fresh smile, hoping this would end quickly.
"... Conlaoch McNessa," he introduced himself, his voice slightly irritated.
Conlaoch McNessa
[The Hound of Shadows].
One of the most beloved male NPCs in the fandom and one of Aeono's most bitter and respected rivals.
"Jakob Liedschlag," I said calmly.
"Here you go, cutie. Enjoy." The smell alone was enough to die for.
Aife appeared with a plate of chicken curry with rice and a glass of water.
"Thank you." I smiled at the dwarf, and she nodded happily.
"Can I have the same?"
Aife looked at Conlaoch and nodded before stepping away.
"...Does it bother you if I eat?"
Conlaoch looked at me as if I were crazy.
"What kind of person refuses to eat just because someone is in front of them?"
I couldn't help but smile. Rough on the outside, but honest at heart.
He was the typical stereotype of a delinquent with a good heart…
Where was the studio that made [Kings Roads] from?
"Enjoy your meal then."
The first bite—my taste buds danced around the meat, and I felt the potency of the curry.
"Hey, is it really that good?" Conlaoch looked at me doubtfully. I smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
The guy watched me for a few seconds before losing interest.
"What do you use?"
"Twin swords," I said between bites.
I remembered all my [Kings Roads] playthroughs, and honestly, the interactions with Conlaoch always seemed the best among the cast of rivals and friends.
"Hey, how did you know I was going to ask?"
Between mouthfuls, I gave a lopsided smile.
"You look like a person of direct questions and simple opinions."
I'm literally stating your most basic description.
"...Are you calling me an idiot?" Fighting inside Eozän was prohibited, but I knew it was a bad idea to cling to school rules.
"I'm calling you direct. How you take it is your business." Taking the last bite and drinking the water, I smiled at him brazenly.
Conlaoch looked at me incredulously, his mouth half-open, and…
"Ahahahahaha!" He burst into loud laughter.
I watched him lose himself in laughter calmly. I can't say the same for the rest of those present, who stared as Conlaoch banged on the table.
He stopped after about five minutes.
"...Okay, turns out you have more guts than I imagined." Conlaoch's smile looked like a hound's, no doubt.
"Great, I'll need them in the future," I said, half-joking, half-serious.
"Pff…"
Hey, I didn't say anything that funny.
"Well, it was a pleasure, McNessa. We'll see each other another time; I have matters to attend to." I stood up just as Aife served Conlaoch his order. "It was delicious as always, Aife. Thanks."
She smiled brightly.
"Always here to help, Jakob."
I nodded before turning around.
"See you later," I said to both. It would likely be the case.
"Whatever. By the way, my weapon is…"
"A spear," I said, cutting him off. "Your next line is: 'Hey, you looking for trouble?'"
"Hey, are you looking for trouble?... Whoa, how did you do that?"
At Conlaoch's incredulous voice, I couldn't help but laugh a little.
I walked out of the Banquet Hall. Right at the doorframe, I turned back.
"State secret," I said with a sly smile.
"What the hell does that even mean?"
I didn't answer. I kept walking in peace, enjoying my surroundings.
During this time, I had learned to enjoy the walks and the atmosphere of this castle. One couldn't access the classrooms or labs for security reasons.
Pity; I wanted to try alchemy and forging.
Other places like the forest, the pool, and the great astrology tower were popular for the views.
God, every time I remember this is an eroge, it puts seeing a couple go to any of those places in perspective.
While looking at a portrait of a golden-haired man in black armor, I remembered my own love life.
'My romantic life is a disaster,' I thought with a serious face.
Being in this place that would soon have the scent of love and various fluids in the air made me feel hopeless.
Jakob's face was decent enough, I guess, but that alone wouldn't get me a girlfriend.
Now that I thought about it, did I even want a girlfriend? I could become one of those eccentric nobles and live off my thoughts…
I imagined myself as a well-known philosopher or writer, selling my unpublished works like Scarlet Riding Hood, Master of the Rings, and Born of Cinders.
I smiled. I already had a plan to get funds if necessary.
I'd need an alias. I looked at the painting and struck an exaggerated pose.
"Ooh painting, give me your wisdom," I said in an exaggerated, theatrical voice. I remembered I used to read players' messages that way during my streams.
"Is it normal for nobles to talk to paintings?" a voice suddenly said at my side. I smiled at that.
I was already close to becoming an eccentric.
"Not really. It's just that I'm bored," I said to the voice beside me. Honestly, I was a bit anxious, and this was my way of dealing with it.
"...And what if we train together?" That was a good idea, but it would be counterproductive to my plans. Still…
"Today is my day off and… wait?" I turned around. Beside me was Primrose with an ear-to-ear smile.
She was beautiful even with her face covered in dirt.
"Hi Jakob, long time no see." I could see the joy in her eyes.
"Hey." I felt my energy suddenly draining. Dealing with a girl this cute and charismatic was a headache. "How's everything?"
The smile she gave was so bright I almost went blind.
"Ehehehe." Don't laugh like that, or have your cheeks flushed. That's shipping material; I flatly refuse to let that happen. "I'm happy to see you."
Stop creating flags!
You're too dangerous!
Primrose was a hunter. Her class, profession, and background were so obvious they left no room for her to be anything less than an effective killing machine.
That said.
"Primrose." My voice was flat and emotionless.
"Yes, Jakob?" She tilted her head adorably. This was getting harder by the second.
*I curse you, eroge world.*
She was practically naked next to me.
"Have you been training in the forests these past few days?" My emotionless voice had to be clear enough in my intention not to involve myself with her. "You should go to the infirmary for a check-up, then to your room to take a shower and put on a new uniform."
Please, have some common sense.
"You're so kind!" she said with a smile full of innocence.
I sighed internally. Primrose had immense assets that were a thread away from breaking free from what was left of her white shirt.
Her skirt was in tatters; at this point, it was a scrap of fabric over her underwear.
God, she was standing here where anyone passing by could see her as if it were nothing.
I noticed her cheeks were more hollowed and her hair was a mess.
She must have been hungry and exhausted.
Great, now I felt bad for her.
"...I recommend going for something to eat. I don't think it's healthy to eat things from the forest." I tried to keep my voice indifferent, but I couldn't help sounding like a father or older brother correcting a problematic relative.
"Hehehe." Primrose laughed with a somewhat silly smile. "Jakob really cares about me."
I do. I look at you and think of a puppy that barely knows how to do anything for itself.
"How did you sneak in here?" I was fairly certain that even standing in front of her, her presence was quite faint. I must not forget this woman was the perfect predator. "Someone must have said something about how you're dressed and… you fought Conlaoch, didn't you?"
In the game, a reference was made to an encounter between them that lasted three days and three nights, where Primrose ultimately won.
I was looking right at the result of that duel.
"Hehehe." She laughed cheerfully again, her face turning slightly red. "Have you met already? I told him about a kind boy who could surely be his friend. He was so nervous after our practice that he ran off toward the castle."
No, he wasn't nervous. He fought a monster beyond reason, and his warrior's pride was wounded.
"He seems like a good guy," I said without much interest. Honestly, in the game, you could summon all sorts of allies to face bosses, but even in my first run, I never used the help of characters…
"I'm sure you'll become friends in no time; you're both very much alike." Primrose said in an animated tone.
I found it curious to be compared to a character like Conlaoch. According to guides and wikis, he was the heroic type.
He was the type to charge into battle with a noble ideal.
An egoist like me had nothing to do with that kind of good person.
"...Maybe," I said, and I couldn't help but look at Primrose's large emerald-green eyes, shining with excitement… "Hey, what happened to your glasses?"
It wasn't normal for her not to have them on.
"They were damaged during my practice with Conlaoch," she said, looking down sheepishly.
Internally, I sighed. She was like a little child.
"...If you go to the infirmary and speak with a woman named Cornelia about your glasses, they can give you an adequate replacement."
Cornelia was the NPC for rare daily drop items.
Usually symbolic things like a medal of honor or a white stone, but she could also drop very useful things like the Greatsword of Bernia or items to advance a heroine's [Royal Road].
According to Armine, who had already spent time living with the Academy staff, Cornelia was in charge of helping with the recovery and physical maintenance of the students.
I might be wasting my chance to take this from Aeono's hands, but… sincerely, it was preferable to be on good terms with a heroine like Primrose.
"You're very kind," Primrose said in a serious tone. She then took my right hand and brought it close to her face. "Your hand is firmer. I noticed your body has gained muscle and your posture has changed."
Suddenly her voice was much more serious.
"You know all that just by taking my hand?" This situation was strange; in this world that didn't work with the same logic as mine, this must be normal.
"Of course not, silly…" Primrose let go of my hand and took several steps back with a friendly smile. "I've been watching you while you trained with the giant girl."
I felt a shiver run down my spine.
That she could pass unnoticed by me was normal, but Armine should have noticed something.
"Since when?" I tried to make my voice indifferent, but it came out with slight nervousness. "Since when have you been doing that?"
She laughed sweetly.
I regretted not having read her wiki page and not checking guides about her. Right now, she gave me the impression of being very dangerous.
My bad habit of not picking a popular waifu for a route had played against me.
Quick, remember the information about her. Items, theories, and other streamers.
Primrose. Hunter.
Popular. Charismatic…
Think, think.
Shit!
I had nothing.
"From the start, silly." Such a cute face shouldn't make me so afraid. "Well, thanks for your kindness, Jakob… you're a good person."
Note: Never underestimate Primrose.
"It's only normal; basic decency," I said, feigning coldness. She widened her smile and stepped toward me with large strides.
"Thank you." Her face was just centimeters from mine. Her breath hit my lips; her eyes looked up at me with a curious glint.
Captivating.
But.
"You're welcome." I could keep my cool. I wasn't harboring vain hopes. In this world, someone like Primrose was destined for the best; a background character like me couldn't aspire to more than a mention from her.
Primrose puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
"You're too serious," she said with her face in that adorable grimace. She took several steps back and…
I took off my uniform jacket and threw it to her. She was good at hiding her presence, but when she had to speak face-to-face with someone, she had better keep some decorum.
"Here, take it." Since the school year hadn't started yet, there wasn't much problem with me going without the jacket. "Don't go around so uncovered."
I turned around to continue on my way. I'd been here too long.
I wanted to go to a place.
This Academy was a fortress created by the King of Souls himself. For all the inhabitants of this world, it was a sacred place.
Originally, no one dared to alter anything of the construction, but…
I entered the chapel.
The scent of incense and old paper hit my nose. This building had an aesthetic that pointed toward the Gothic style of Earth's 12th–16th centuries.
Being in this place evoked Gregorian chants, and this body reacted to that stimulus.
There were rows of wooden pews arranged in front of the altar where the priest would give the day's sermon.
The idea of religion in a fantasy world was always interesting. As a gamer, I had never given it much importance; now, as an inhabitant of this world, it was a curious situation.
Jakob was an atheist—a brave decision when magic existed, especially one that was literally the inheritance of the Creator God.
Not to mention there was evidence anyone could find with enough time and interest.
I remembered the church had monopolized most of these relics or locations.
Living beings like dragons that survived those times bore witness to the existence of the King of Souls.
Game objects also had explicit descriptions of being from or near the time of the King of Souls.
That's why one of the most used waifus was Clementine, the Executioner. A nun and warrior of the church.
There was also Helal, who was literally the spokesperson of the King of Souls and an omnipresent and almost omnipotent being.
Yes, Jakob was an idiot.
He was capable of ignoring the existence of monsters capable of changing geography with ease, all because of his ego.
I showed my respect for the church by drawing two lines over my heart—very similar to the sign of the Cross, now that I thought about it.
The symbol of the church was very reminiscent of the Christian Cross…
I ignored that detail and went toward the altar.
Light entered through the stained-glass windows representing key events of this world's worldview.
I recognized several scenes from the introduction cinematic.
The Great Dragon of the void and chaos, accompanied by his progeny and orphans of light, ascending to the sky.
The King of Souls waited for them in the heavens, his twin swords ready for battle.
His representation had a halo, and with him were the rest of the Gods.
Mmmm.
God of gods.
The Protector of Life.
I didn't remember where the development company was from, but I knew it showed a certain respect for religion.
Personally, religion had never mattered to me.
I approached the altar.
The union of the two swords of the King of Souls formed the sacred symbol of faith.
It was too similar to a Cross.
I knelt. In the game, you normally chose to pray, and in a 1 in 1,000 chance, you might receive a bonus in faith and stamina.
I had never prayed, but my mother used to be devout, always sure that the Creator heard her.
I closed my eyes and kept my mouth shut.
I knew no one heard me. The God of this world had abandoned his creations.
"I haven't seen you around here before."
A voice in the distance reached me. It resonated in the chapel with a certain authority.
I didn't move.
Usually, if you managed to obtain the buff, a golden light would rest upon you.
Three minutes passed without any noticeable effect.
I sighed. I stood up while opening my eyes and looked toward where the voice had come from.
An older man—his gray hair bore witness to the years he'd spent in this world; his hair was combed back with a few loose strands.
His tanned skin was quite notable, as were the lines crossing his face.
Golden eyes shone with life and watched me with a certain curiosity.
He was sitting near me, his arms crossed. It was clear the man, both in past times and now, would be capable of killing me with a punch.
He wore the black clothes of a priest with a golden cloth at his waist. Now that I noticed, he had a pipe lit, from which smoke was coming out.
"My apologies," I said sincerely. I had ignored him in favor of obtaining a buff; that was very rude. "It wasn't my intention to ignore you."
The man looked at me thoroughly for a few seconds, then removed the pipe from his lips with his middle and index fingers.
"It's bad manners to interrupt someone while they pray, but tell me… are you just discovering religion?" I looked at him for a few seconds. From his perspective, what I did surely looked like an expression of faith. "Whatever, boy. The service is at 6:00 AM every day. If you wanted to receive the sacraments, it was better to come at that time."
It was good to know that. Anyway, I wasn't really here for faith, but for convenience.
"What I need now, I didn't know if I could obtain before." But it didn't work out. I felt slightly disappointed; I had hoped to go better prepared for the battle against the Rat King.
I looked at the ceiling. It showed a painting of a man in a long white cloak with sword in hand, shielding a group of people from the crawling darkness.
Truly inspiring.
"...What are you looking for?" After a curious silence, the man asked.
Good question.
"Purpose," I said before extending my hand toward him. "Jakob Liedschlag, just an ordinary student."
He stared at my hand before answering the greeting.
"Edward." His grip was firm; he seemed to have the strength of a bull in his muscles. "I am the humble priest of this chapel. By the way, it's bad to lie to priests."
Edward said in a playful tone, then put his pipe back to take a puff.
"Lie?" I said in a doubtful tone. Hopefully, it wasn't another case like Zofia's. It was already enough of a headache having someone know I was a transmigrated person.
The man let out the smoke he'd been holding along with a chuckle.
"Liedschlag…" he said in a reflective tone, as if tasting the name. "Ancient family. Powerful in its time. Now… well, time is cruel to everyone except dragons and idiots."
I gave a lopsided smile. Jakob would have jumped to defend his honor.
I nodded.
"I guess I'm neither of the two," I said, aware that by "idiots" he referred to those who make history. As Jakob, I knew I wasn't one of those two.
Edward let out a raspy laugh that echoed among the empty pews.
"Good answer. I like you, boy." He leaned forward a bit, his golden eyes shining with genuine curiosity. "Are you a believer or have you received the Sacrament?"
I searched Jakob's memories. In fact, he had received the Sacrament—the equivalent of baptism in my world of origin.
"I have received the Sacrament, but I am not active in the church." Nor did I intend to be.
Forgive me, priest, but I didn't come here for faith.
"That I can notice. You seem like the type who comes to pray for high grades or a beneficial marriage." There must be many who came for those reasons, judging by Edward's tired tone as he fixed his gaze on the altar.
I looked at the symbol of faith of this world with intensity.
The two fused swords that looked like a Cross shone weakly under the light from the stained-glass windows.
"If I told you that God has abandoned this world, what would you do? Hypothetically speaking."
I was one of the few people who knew of the God's absence. Perhaps the opinion of someone who was both of the clergy and a native of this world would be helpful.
"I'd give you a good punch." I turned toward Edward when he said that with a friendly and playful tone. "Maybe I'd call the Inquisition to have you jailed for blasphemy."
Edward said that with a lot of amusement and calm while I only thought of the kind of horrors that would happen to me if I fell into the hands of the Inquisition.
"...Hypothetically speaking?" Come on, I didn't need another problem on top of me.
The man stared at me with his golden eyes. Seconds later, he burst into loud laughter.
*Hey, it's not funny. What kind of priest makes those jokes?*
"But of course!" he said with a smile after calming down. "But answering more seriously… I'd still believe in Him."
"Eh?" The seriousness with which he said that and his answer left me speechless for a few moments.
"That Cross isn't just a symbol of Him." The priest, with a sober voice, pointed at the Cross seriously. "It's a reminder. That someone once believed this world was worth being saved."
"..." I didn't know what to think or say. This was a stance I didn't expect to find here.
I stayed looking at the priest.
Such conviction and faith reminded me of…
For a few seconds, in front of me, a woman with long black hair stood with her back turned.
"I don't think I have that strength," I admitted without shame. Now I was grateful I wasn't Aeono. On his young shoulders the fate of all would rest. Such pressure was… "Compared to you, I'm a much less strong guy."
I say this as myself, not as Jakob. Thinking about it, this world was full of extraordinary people; maybe that's why I was Jakob.
I'm simply one of the crowd and that's it.
I looked toward Edward. He seemed to be analyzing me thoroughly.
He took another long puff from his pipe.
"Come tomorrow at dawn. There's a short service. No mindless chatter; just singing and lessons." He let the smoke out and stood up. "If you ever want to talk about whatever is going through your head… this door will always be open."
Edward said as he walked toward the exit. I followed him with my eyes until he left the chapel.
I couldn't obtain the buff, but I guess having a priest as an ally could be advantageous in some way.
But…
"What am I supposed to do with the free time I have left?"
….
…
..
.
The metal doors made a heavy sound as the mechanism moving them activated.
They separated slowly, the relief images of a Lion and an Armored Knight locked in combat giving way to the realm of the Rat King.
I looked at the hallway before me with a certain fascination—a path of white tiles that looked pristine, with liquid flowing on either side.
On the walls of both sides, lit lamps illuminated the path with a faint white light.
No nauseating smell reached me, no noise disturbed me, nor was there any sense of danger.
And yet.
I could hear the drumming of my heart. The knot forming in my throat from nerves made me swallow instinctively.
I gripped the hilts of my swords to calm the trembling of my hands.
My anxiety was killing me.
"Are you okay, Jakob?" Armine's voice snapped me out of my concentration.
I looked to my right.
In most eroge, they made female characters wear excessively revealing clothes, regardless of whether it was armor or practically useless in combat.
[Kings Roads] was not the case. Apparently, while the developers were weird, they weren't irrational.
Armine wore full plate armor: breastplate, gauntlets, chainmail, faulds—the complete set.
The cloth at her waist and the blue scarf gave her a heroic touch.
In her hand, she held her greatsword; the edge reflected the light dangerously, looking eager to drink blood.
Damn, the visorless helm somehow cast a shadow over her face that hid her from others.
All of that, combined with Armine's sheer size, intimidated any potential enemies.
"It's nothing," I said, letting out a tired sigh. "You look incredible, Armine."
It was hard to look at her; she was a heroic and legendary image, worthy of being immortalized.
"Nyohhh!?" The warrior stepped back from me a bit while letting out a funny sound. "What are you saying now?"
I couldn't help but laugh at that. Armine was a pure-hearted maiden, after all.
"Thanks for letting me come with you," I said honestly. Armine's support was key to this. Looking at her, I noticed she became a bit tense.
"Try not to stray too far from me." Even with her face covered in shadows, her concern was clearly visible.
I smiled.
"That's the plan," I told her confidently. Perhaps it wasn't wise to place so much trust in someone, but Armine was my first friend; I was sure I could count on her. "I'm in your care, Armine."
I couldn't see her golden eyes, but I focused on where they should be anyway. She surely didn't fully understand how important this was to me.
"..."
She stared at me fixedly.
"...How long are you two going to flirt?" a man's voice pulled me out of my stupor.
I looked at the middle-aged man wearing gray overalls over a white shirt and brown leather boots.
He had blonde hair combed back, a gray overall over a black t-shirt; his elongated face and sly smile seemed quite carefree to me.
He was holding a broom that he leaned on, and on his back was a large white sword.
The janitor and…
"We aren't flirting," I said calmly to the man who snorted with an expression of disbelief. "Seriously, can't a guy just have a friendship with a girl without everyone jumping to assume we're interested in each other?"
Wait, what I just said was a dialogue in the game and a cliché wrapped in another cliché.
"Whatever you say, kid." The man turned around and ignored me with total tranquility. "Since you're going down, I'll be here for when you find the source of the problem."
The man walked to the open doors and pointed to the hallway with some boredom.
"...I understand," Armine said firmly. She grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and lifted me up to her face. "Don't stray too far and keep your mind focused at all times."
"Yes." I smiled, being just inches from her. I felt tempted to tell her that what was down there was nothing more than a big rat, but… "I'm counting on you."
I couldn't see her face, but my friend remained silent.
"...Jakob." There was something in Armine's tone I couldn't identify.
"Get in there already!" the blonde man shouted with exasperation.
"Sir, yes sir!" Armine put me on her shoulder and ran toward the hallway.
From here, I saw how we moved further and further away from the entrance. Only when the blonde man was no longer recognizable did Armine set me down.
"Well, that was comfortable." I stretched a bit and did small hops to prepare myself for what was coming. "This place is very clean."
I could hear the water running. The tiled floor was pristine, and the faint white light covering us created an almost mystical atmosphere.
Good. If I managed to defeat the boss quickly, I'd be able to explore the rest of the area. There should be a good amount of items around.
"The fire that is periodically used to clean the whole place," Armine said behind me. I thought for a second about the sea of flames that would form through these paths. "Let's not waste time."
Armine passed by me with authority and elegance; her full-body armor made a slight metallic sound as she moved.
No one could tell at first glance that she was a girl.
"Right," I said, following her closely.
Come to think of it, the path to find the Rat King was the one Armine was following.
"So… what exactly are we looking for?" I decided to feign ignorance. While smiling, I made sure my twin swords could be drawn easily.
"Rats." While I was unsheathing and sheathing my swords, I heard Armine say that. Good, at least the objective was the same. "The director told me it's very possible a mutation has suddenly appeared among them in the last few days."
The director—a clever man, possibly one of the five beings who knew the secret of this world.
I should avoid him.
"And how are we going to find this rat?" We reached a wide circular area. There were eight paths, including the one we came from, that we could take.
Lights illuminated each path, but after a certain distance, it seemed as if everything turned to darkness.
"We won't," Armine said with a serious voice. She pulled out a black ocarina from somewhere and brought it to her lips.
Wait…
"Hey, isn't that…?"
The sound that came out of the black ocarina was like the scream of horror and suffering of a woman. That hellish noise traveled through the entire drain; for a few moments, it was a catacomb full of spirits.
My blood turned cold. The hair on my body stood on end. I swallowed hard and, by instinct, drew my twin swords.
"Get ready," Armine said with a frigid, serious tone, completely contrary to her normal way of speaking. "Try not to scream or run away."
She took her sword with both hands and stepped into position, pointing forward.
I had neither the desire nor the option to do what she said.
I swallowed my nerves again. My hands were sweating, my grip was shaky and…
The floor began to tremble slightly. I frantically searched for the source with my eyes. All the hallways remained the same, but… the darkness in the background looked deeper for some reason.
I stared fixedly. I could feel the trembling increasing. I bit my lower lip.
"Don't blink," I told myself, eyes fixed on the darkness.
I felt sweat concentrated on my forehead. My heart felt like it wanted to shoot out of my chest. I could hear the multitude of those things coming—for me—every paw, every screech.
Closer. They were getting closer.
I didn't look away from the dark end of the hallway.
I swallowed with fear. My eyes burned, but I didn't want to lose sight of the darkness.
I blinked.
"Dammit." Cursing, I quickly opened my eyes again. In literally a blink, everything changed.
Small red dots appeared in the middle of the darkness—millions of eyes staring at me.
There they were. The color of their teeth was also visible; I could notice their hunger.
I felt the imminent disaster approaching me. It was literally a sea of rats.
I knew they were in the rest of the hallways, but I looked toward them anyway. I held my breath.
Shit.
I lost my warmth. I felt the vibration increase. I looked up, fearing the ceiling would fall.
And the sound. Good God, the sound.
It was a hellish cacophony. It sounded as if they were stepping on and devouring each other just to get here.
The closer they were, the more I noticed what a deformed mass they were. Their eyes glowed intensely and…
"Holy shit…" I whispered with horror.
All at once, in a black sea with red lights, they burst through the hallways.
I stood paralyzed in my spot. For some reason, I began to smile as hundreds of rats with open mouths ready to devour me fell upon us.
How naive I was.
I had underestimated how horrible this could be. This world… I thought of my mother as a rat's mouth approached.
I…
In a flash, Armine was in front of me, swinging her sword vertically.
The rats were cut cleanly. The edge was covered in blood.
She was facing away from me, and yet I could notice the firmness with which she stood her ground.
I followed her movements as best as I could: horizontal cut, vertical cut, footwork—all accompanied by enough strength to eliminate as many rats as possible.
The more I watched them, the more I noticed Armine increasing her speed. She didn't stop for a single second.
Little by little, a red river began to form; the air became impregnated with a turbid scent.
And yet, at no point did the black wave stop. The screeches continued.
Armine didn't stop for a single moment. With every cut made, she formed a spray of red.
It took me a while to realize, but I understood that every movement the half-giantess made was precise and efficient.
Rats tried to jump toward her in the middle of each attack, only to end up dead from a punch or without even making a dent in her armor.
The speed. My God, the speed.
In the middle of the tide of rats, I'm sure if Armine wanted to, I would only see a silver trail.
At one point, it was raining red.
I stayed right here in my spot, unable to fully process the power before me and…
She was protecting me.
Observing the rest of the area, Armine had set a notable perimeter between them and me.
My friend hadn't yielded a single inch.
"I'm a fool." My heart was beating so hard I thought it would break my ribs; now it had calmed down.
But…
My hands were still trembling, but I increased the grip on my sword hilts anyway.
I had never harmed an animal before. Jakob had—usually rabbits, cats, or dogs.
My stomach churned from those memories.
"Leave that nonsense behind…" I told myself. I didn't have time for this.
Armine was slightly forming a wall of corpses.
I took a step forward, staining my boots with scarlet.
Among Armine's movements, there was room for rats to pass between her attacks.
I saw one of them running toward me. It jumped while opening its mouth and extending its paws.
I took a breath, firmed my feet, and extended my right arm toward the animal's mouth.
The sword pierced its skull, going through its mouth with the edge protruding.
I let out my breath as I pulled my sword out of the rat. I felt its blood on my right hand, but I decided to ignore it.
I stared at my hand for a few seconds. It was trembling, but I didn't have time for this.
I swallowed.
"AAAAHHH!" I threw myself forward with force. I passed between one of Armine's thrusts and stabbed two rats the size of dogs in the belly.
I quickly pulled out my weapons and finished them by piercing their skulls.
I grunted. I stepped hard on a small rat passing by. I pierced one with a thrust and threw it aside with a sharp movement.
I looked toward Armine, who was still clearing the place with impressive efficiency.
It didn't matter. I saw the stragglers coming toward me.
Three jumped toward my face. I put more strength into my grip and cut all three into pieces.
…It seemed almost impossible that I had this strength now.
I had no time to think. A rat latched onto my shoulder. Without thinking, I gave a thrust that pierced its neck. The vermin fell to the ground letting out a screech.
I turned around and stepped hard on the rat's neck; my boot filled with blood.
I grunted again.
I noticed the sound of thousands of footsteps.
I smiled savagely as I concentrated on what was in front of me.
A tide of rats was coming.
I let out a scream as I knifed a rat just as the sea of beasts covered me.
I began to swing wild slashes all around me. I stepped, threw punches, and bit everything on me.
"Griiiii!"
Something rammed into me like an American football player and dragged me forward. I grunted, feeling a bite on my left shoulder.
Whatever it was, it looked like a black bear.
I didn't even think. I began to stab at whatever was holding me and pierced the beast's thick neck, forcing it to let go.
I landed on my feet with pain in my shoulder. I didn't lose my grip on my swords and saw the giant rat that stood on its hind legs.
More than two meters.
I smiled, tightened my muscles, and retracted my right arm.
I threw the right sword with all my strength, and it embedded itself in the monster's belly.
I let out a click of my tongue. I was aiming for the heart, but oh well.
I ran toward the rat. I needed my sword.
The rat tried to hit me with its claws, but I ducked in time. I grabbed my sword and instead of pulling it out, I decided to move it across the rat's belly.
Red. Red.
A sea of blood and intestines covered the floor. The beast fell forward, and smaller rats coming toward me walked over it.
I smiled again. Even with my hands full of blood, I pointed at those vermin.
I threw slashes, gave thrusts, and stabbed everything that came at me.
My heart beat like crazy with every attack.
I felt my body hot, as if liquid fire ran in my blood. I no longer heard any other sound that wasn't my own labored breathing as I kept attacking.
At some point, my mind stopped registering what was happening around me.
It took me a few minutes to regain my calm.
What an incredible image…
There was only red wherever I looked. Three rat corpses were stuck on my right sword.
I used the left one to stab a pig-sized rat over and over again.
At some point, there were only corpses and a river of blood around me.
I looked forward. A wall of bodies stood between me and the sound of another tide of rats.
I pulled the corpses off my left sword. I began to search with my eyes for more enemies.
More. I needed more…
Experience…
"Jakob!" Armine stepped in front of me, her bastard sword pointing forward. "Don't move from my side."
I had forgotten she was here…
"What's happening?" I said stupidly, my attention diffuse. I scanned the entire room.
Black walls of flesh, the turbid smell in the air, blood along with other fluids staining the white of the floor.
The white light reflected in the liquid, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Then I noticed it.
The silence.
I felt my mouth go dry suddenly.
"...Here it comes," I heard Armine say.
My friend was in position. Then I remembered why we were here.
Then it resonated.
It was a guttural, hollow, and sinister sound.
I got into position, completely focused on a point in the wall of dead rats.
I wasn't sure what I expected. In the game, you normally went to the boss room and passed through a blue light threshold.
I felt the shoulder pain, the blood on my hands, and the trembling of my body.
I let out a breath of hot air.
This was real.
I laughed a little at that.
"Armine…" I turned to see her. Beneath that helm was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. I couldn't help but smile; after all this, she was the first bond I had been able to form with someone. "Thanks."
I said, just before feeling an impact on my chest.
The vertigo of being propelled backward and a painful slam against the wall made me lose my breath.
"Jakob!" I heard Armine shout the name of this body. I grunted in pain as I fell to my knees.
That left me without oxygen in my lungs. I raised my head to see where the blow had come from.
A long appendage covered in black scales snaked among the rat corpses before retracting again through the opening that had formed.
Then.
It passed through the wall of corpses.
Huge. Four meters of pure muscle covered in black fur. Its front legs were strangely long, with long yellow claws that gleamed at the edge.
Its head was similar to a greyhound's. Sharp yellowish teeth protruded from its lips. Its eyes were bulging and glowed faintly in gold against the light.
Behind that thing extended a long and serpentine tail of black scales that moved fluidly.
The Rat King.
The joke boss of [Kings Roads].
Having it in front of me made me aware of how horrible it was.
When all of this was still a game, I had never paid much attention to the design.
What a disgusting thing. It definitely met expectations for a mutant.
"You bastard." I stood up with difficulty. My hands were still firmly holding my swords.
That thing focused on me when I said that. Bad idea.
Armine appeared in a flash beside that monster, swinging her sword horizontally.
I smiled. Just like that, this monster would fall.
"GRAAAAAHHHH!" the Rat King let out a demonic roar.
Like a spell, the rats still alive among the corpses formed a black wall between their king and Armine.
The wall turned into a wave that dragged Armine down one of the hallways. I could only notice as my friend extended her arm toward me.
"Jakob!" I heard her scream in the middle of the tide of vermin.
I stood paralyzed. My brain took time to process that.
Slowly, I fixed my gaze on the Boss, who concentrated its attention on me.
The weight of this situation fell on my shoulders suddenly.
I couldn't run. I grit my teeth, rising from the floor. This was what I had come here for.
I prepared myself. I raised both swords and pointed at that beast.
There was a distance between the Boss and me. If I used the ring, I could deliver a certain slash to that monster's belly.
It was literally the easiest Boss to defeat. I had prepared for this.
I must not hesitate. I could not lose.
"Let's go," I said confidently and…
I heard the sound of an edge piercing something and the sound of liquid falling.
I felt an intense pain in my abdomen. I looked down and with horror saw that the Rat King's tail was impaled there.
I fell to my knees. Something ran up my throat, and I spat blood.
I still had my hands clutching the twin swords, but I needed to take a moment to…
I felt a pulsing pain throughout my body and a spontaneous weakness.
I noticed that my pale skin had black spots.
Shit.
I was {Poisoned}.
Dammit.
The third most annoying status effect in the game, and my end if I didn't move fast.
I was losing clear vision. It was getting hard to breathe… I… Jesus… I was dying…
No.
Not like this.
….
…
..
.
Snow was falling; the pristine white stretched as far as my eyes could see, and the sky was a shade of gray.
How I loved winter. It was my favorite season; I felt a sense of peace when I saw the snow.
I was sitting on my favorite red swing.
I could feel the cold seeping into my entire body; I would kill for a good hot chocolate.
I looked at my hand, covered by a thick glove.
My mind felt strange, as if I were forgetting something important.
"Nah," I said, swinging. I stood up on the swing and laughed while holding onto the metal chains.
I jumped from the swing and landed in the snow with a smile on my face.
"Hey." I was surprised to hear a voice beside me. When I turned around, I noticed a boy with white hair and red eyes looking at where I was standing, tears forming in his eyes. "You stepped on my friend."
The boy wore an expensive-looking white coat over his clothes and a red scarf around his neck.
Hey, what is a child doing all alone in this place? I leaned toward him and looked into his watery eyes.
"Kid, what are you doing here all alone?" I saw him lower his head. He clenched his tiny hands and looked like he was about to cry.
"I wasn't alone…" I barely heard what he said, so I moved closer to him. "You took my friend away from me."
"Eh?" I looked at my feet. There were the remains of a half-finished snowman. Oh, shit. "I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to."
I stepped off the remains of the snowman and reached down to gather the snow.
"...Mister." I didn't look up from the snow I was collecting. The boy's voice made me look up at him. "Why are you here?"
His red eyes stared at me fixedly. There was sadness and fear in those orbs.
I suddenly felt disoriented.
What was I doing here?
I remembered the time I stood before my mother's coffin; the feeling of disconnection from the world continued long after.
It was so cold…
I thought about when I fled home after arguing with my… progenitor.
In my mind, the scene played out of when I spent three months being attacked, and no one came to see me.
I felt the urge to just sit here and let myself be covered by the snow.
Then, for no apparent reason, I remembered the time my girlfriend of eight years decided she wanted to go on a trip through Europe.
"I don't know," I said, looking into the boy's eyes. My voice was cracked; I felt tears falling. "I don't know…"
He looked at me and sat by my side.
"Do you have a mom and dad?"
"No." My mother had passed away years ago, and my father had become a stranger to me.
"Oh." The poor boy sounded very disappointed. "Me neither."
I sighed, put my hand on his head, and ruffled his hair.
"It's okay, kid." I tried to sound as confident as possible. "Sometimes the place where we belong isn't where we are born."
I knew that well.
"...Do you have a place where you belong?"
I closed my eyes. He was an innocent child; he was probably only asking out of honest empathy.
"No," I said, opening my eyes and looking at the gray sky. "Not yet."
To be honest, I didn't think I could find one at this point in my life… I had searched for a long time and, sincerely, I was tired.
I felt strange. Why was I talking so honestly with this child? Perhaps it was a strange sense of similarity between the two of us.
I didn't know.
"I… can I have a place to return to?" The boy's voice sounded anxious, even desperate.
"Of course." I wasn't lying. I might have given up on finding a home, but this child could still find his place in this world. "I'm sure that one day you will find a place where you are welcomed."
The boy's laughter gave me irrational hope. I closed my eyes with a smile on my lips.
Between the winter cold and the horrible feeling of loneliness, I had faith in a future because of this boy.
"...It's time to go." A third voice came from behind me. I turned around sharply.
In the middle of the snow stood a man in a suit. For some reason, I couldn't distinguish his face clearly.
I could see the features separately, but something in my mind wouldn't let me piece them together to see his face in full.
Brown eyes, black hair, a notable beard. He had an imposing body—broad shoulders, sturdy arms.
His posture was straight and commanding; he looked like someone accustomed to heavy labor, or perhaps a King.
"Yes!" The boy stood up and went toward the man with the kind of smile a son would give his father.
I stood up by instinct. I felt tempted to stop the child from running toward the man.
The boy took the man's hand; he was smiling and looked very happy.
That man was not his father—the boy had told me so himself—and yet he looked at peace beside the stranger.
There was something about the man that radiated peace and warmth.
A strange longing washed over me. I didn't know him, but…
For some reason, I felt envious of the boy.
"...Where are you taking him?" I asked without thinking. The man smiled, and I felt at peace.
"To the place where he belongs." Behind the man, a pillar of golden light extended—no, fire… fire and light mixed in a tower that split reality. "His home awaits him."
Both the man and the boy, as if they were father and son, turned toward the golden pillar. Without knowing why, I extended my hand toward them.
"Wait!" I shouted with fear and desperation. I ran toward them, but it seemed as if I wasn't moving from my spot. "Me too! I want to go to my home too!"
My vision blurred with tears. I fell to my knees, knowing I couldn't reach them. For some reason, I felt more alone than ever.
I saw the snow—so white, pure, and devoid of warmth.
"Your story has not yet ended, my son." I didn't look up. The man's voice resonated from everywhere. "Be brave and persevere."
There were so many emotions behind his voice that I couldn't help but look up.
"Who are you?" The boy and the man were covered by the golden light, which continued to advance until it covered almost everything.
Even as the light approached me and the man had vanished, I could hear his voice.
"I am the King."
….
…
..
.
I snapped my eyes open, gasping for oxygen in desperation; my body screamed with pain and exhaustion.
I looked up.
The Rat King had retracted its tail to its mouth and gave a lick to the blood dripping from it. Its eyes glowed with hunger.
Maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed to me that the rat smiled.
I felt an uncontrollable rage surge from the deepest part of my soul.
"I'm going to kill you!" I shouted with all the hatred I didn't know I had accumulated.
I let go of my right sword, reached into my right pocket, and took what I had saved for this moment.
I swallowed the Rûaj candy.
My entire body was suddenly filled with energy; the wounds I had sustained healed instantly.
I grit my teeth while applying {Valior}.
What does magic feel like?
Right now, it was like acid coursing through my nerves. I didn't know what my face looked like now, but I knew I was smiling to mitigate the pain.
The Rat King seemed to notice the change in me, as it retracted its tail and prepared the tip, aiming it at me.
I widened my smile.
Then came the attack, as fast as a bullet.
But this time, I could see it clearly. I stepped to the side; the tail stabbed right where I had been standing.
I noticed the Rat trying to pull its tail out of the ground. Perfect.
I looked directly into the monster's eyes. I raised my right arm with a firm grip on my sword and, with a quick movement, I delivered a slash.
Normally, it would be difficult to cut something like a Boss's tail, but this time, the {Valior} along with the Rûaj pushed my body to the limit, and with that…
"GRAAAAAHHH!" The Boss's scream of pain gave me immeasurable satisfaction.
I took off and activated the ring's effect.
I closed the distance between the Rat King and me, increasing the pressure on my swords.
"AAAHHH!" I shouted with all my might.
I plunged my swords into the rat's belly. I felt them pierce the skin, and blood sprayed over me.
"GRAAAAH!" The beast let out another cry of pain. I smiled.
I pulled out my swords. The Rat King tried to swipe at me, which I avoided by a hair. If I had been a minute slower to dodge, I would have lost my right eye.
I ducked, just in time. I raised my right sword as I moved behind the Boss.
It was time for the most well-known move in Souls games.
Backstab.
"KRIIIKK!"
The Rat fell onto its stomach on the floor while letting out a screech of pain. I didn't waste time.
I ran over it and pierced both eyes with my swords.
"GRAAHHH!" The rat let out a scream of pain. It didn't stop me there; I put everything I had into piercing its skull. "GRAAHHH!"
The monster's body began to have muscle spasms the more I tried to drive the swords in.
I had to kill it fast. I could feel it struggling to recover and shake me off.
My hands were trembling. I grunted, putting all my strength into this single purpose.
I cursed.
My hands—numb and sticky with thick, black blood—were still gripped tight to the handles of my swords.
I couldn't let go. My fingers were cramped, locked by the adrenaline and the residual effect of {Valior}.
"Die... just die…" My throat hurt; I felt my voice rasping.
Just die, stupid Boss.
"GRAAH!" The Rat King let out one last screech—a sound that didn't seem of this world—before its body stopped moving.
"Uhg?" It took me a moment to process my victory. Seconds later, I was able to let go of my swords… "I won?"
Standing over the corpse of the Rat King, the silence around me caused something strange in me.
I looked at my hands. They were… quite normal, really. Covered in blood, dirt, and full of calluses, but…
They were mine.
"Jakob!" Armine's shout resonated in the tunnel.
I saw her running toward me, her armor covered from head to toe in red, her sword on her back.
In a way, the darkened crimson on her silver armor and the way she ran gave her the image of a Bloody Valkyrie.
Somehow, she was aesthetically immune to everything.
I was jealous; protagonist status had its perks.
I jumped down from the Rat King's corpse.
My vision was beginning to darken at the edges.
Shit…
"Hey, Armine…" I said with a lopsided smile. I had to take advantage and try to look good.
I saw her take off her helm. Her face was still beautiful despite the tears and expression of fear.
It wasn't fair for someone to look so good even in this situation…
"Jakob!" What a thing. I saw her approaching, and I could only focus on her golden eyes while my mind felt more diffuse.
When she was barely three steps from me, she stopped.
Her gaze conveyed so many emotions. Relief, happiness, fear, and gratitude.
"I won." It was the only thing I could say before she hugged me tightly.
"Thank God… thank God you're okay."
For a moment, I doubted I was conscious. While my vision darkened and she held me, I felt warm inside.