Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpediem
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# Serenia Castle, Kaseun's Mansion.
"Urgh..."
He let out a small groan as he opened his eyes, only to squeeze them shut again against the blinding light. Slowly opening them once more, his blurry vision began to focus. The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. It wasn't the one he was used to seeing. This was a luxurious ceiling adorned with beautiful patterns and molding. The blanket covering him was made of a far softer material than the one he used at home.
'Where is this place?'
As he stared quietly, he realized it was somewhere he'd been before.
'Kaseun's mansion.'
Why was he here? He let out a small sigh as he pondered, recalling his last memory: meeting Gabriel at the temple. Her completely unexpected reaction, the incomprehensible words she spat out as she tried to kill him, and then someone appearing to save him. He hadn't seen the person's face, but how many could stand against the Holy King to rescue him? It vaguely felt like it might have been Sian.
"...Should I count myself lucky for not dying?"
If he had died right then, he would have had to start over from the beginning. Just imagining it was horrifying. All the relationships he'd built, the training, the painstakingly raised stats and skill proficiencies—everything might have been reset. Save counts reset to 1 upon acquiring a fragment anyway, no matter how many he saved up, so he figured he should save at this point.
Sian hadn't said they accumulated... so getting a fragment wouldn't turn 1 into 2.
[Saving resurrection point based on current location and time.]
Soon, a message appeared like in a game, confirming the save. He pulled up the system message log. The holographic window recorded brief info on major past events. If something special had happened while he was out, it would be logged.
[21:20 - Met "Holy King Gabriel," whom even high priests rarely see, and witnessed Cain Savrak being chosen as [Gabriel's Sword]. This is tremendous luck and honor. Witnessing that miraculous sight increases mana by 2.]
[21:25 - Holy King Gabriel granted you the trait [Chosen One - Rank: A].]
It felt heavily abbreviated. He was sure he'd been attacked by Gabriel. So why was there suddenly a trait granted? But the log had no record of that. Only the special events.
"Ha, seriously. Useless."
Judah chewed his lip as he stared blankly at the hologram for a while, then checked the Chosen One trait.
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[Chosen One] - Rank: A / Workmanship: Master
Today feels like a lucky day...
Chosen out of countless people. Luck seems to come from unexpected places.
Luck stat increases by 5, and luck potential rises by 1 stage.
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It matched his memory exactly—the trait he knew. But he couldn't understand why she'd given it to him. It was the trait Cain should have as Gabriel's Sword. Feeling confused, Judah pushed off the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed, loosening his body. His bones cracked with a woody sound, and he felt a bit refreshed, but soon zoned out dumbly again. Glancing out the window absentmindedly, he jolted at the sight of the morning sun illuminating everything.
"Ha, come to think of it, I was supposed to buy bread."
He belatedly remembered Tia's bread errand. He'd said he'd go to the temple and be right back, but a whole day had passed. He'd left at night under the moon and returned in the morning sun.
At least he could buy fresh morning bread, but he worried she might have been searching everywhere for him since he hadn't come home or even said a word all night.
He needed to hurry back. As he rose from the bed, he heard thudding footsteps running down the hall. The noisy racket was irritating for no reason. Who would run so loudly and uncouthly through a noble's mansion corridors? No need to wonder—it had to be the hyper Cain. The moment he guessed, the door burst open.
Bam!
"Judah!"
"Damn it...!"
The door slammed into the wall with a huge bang. Judah swallowed a curse mixed with annoyance. Taking a slow deep breath, he watched Cain enter through the open door.
"You're awake! You okay? They said you collapsed there too?"
Cain approached with a genuinely innocent expression, asking if he was fine. Judah closed his eyes and swallowed his irritation at the sight. But at the same time, his heart pounded with rising murderous intent. Cain had obtained the holy knight's advanced class, Gabriel's Sword. Just like he'd become Black Claw, the advanced class for magic swordsman.
Realizing that, Judah was swept into inner conflict.
'......'
Eyes closed, he recalled Cain's info. As Gabriel's Sword, Cain would leave this place on his fifteenth birthday—after the coming-of-age ceremony—to gather fragments. With excellent companions, he'd acquire many and eventually become the successor.
Honestly, he'd never given much thought to Cain before, but now it was different. It had become a practical problem. Cain... was dangerous.
'Should I kill him?'
He could do it easily now. His growth was slightly ahead, and Cain barely understood his new Gabriel's Sword job. In a fight, victory was certain. [Gabriel's Sword] was a job for the Holy King's apostle to begin with. Cain would grow stronger over time. Alone, he could crush him without variables, since Black Claw countered Gabriel's Sword. If it played out like the game, beating Cain wouldn't be hard.
'But I can't kill him here.'
This was Kaseun's mansion. Killing Cain here would bring Kaseun's wrath—he'd kill Judah in turn. With current stats, he couldn't escape the Eternal Sword owner. Judah suppressed his killing intent. To repay the favors received, he decided not to kill Cain within Serenia Castle.
Plenty of opportunities left anyway.
In the original game, Judah's adult ceremony came first, and he left Serenia Castle before Cain.
To digress briefly to the game world: Judah leaves Serenia first, gains experience, stumbles on a fragment. Fascinated, he hunts more, clashing with Cain. First time, they just talk and part; after, they fight over fragments.
By then, Judah's level is 5-10 higher on average than the player (Cain). The player party defeats him for the fragment, but it's no easy task.
Level gap aside, Judah's skills counter Cain's, dealing scary damage. Poor party comp or momentary control slips often led to wipes.
Players who dropped Judah's HP low and got cocky faced instant invincibility and team-wiping damage. Thus, saving before Judah became habit.
Yet even this infuriating Judah became manageable late-game with patience and fragments closing the gap. Fail to steal or lose the fragment, though, and even with party, it was suffering.
But crucially, this wasn't a game—it was a real world.
It wouldn't flow exactly like the game. Judah vaguely guessed his created game's story wouldn't proceed as scripted.
'Because I'm not Cain, I'm Judah.'
It might start similar to memory, but choices would diverge more over time. More variables, memories could prove wrong. But leaving Serenia first, he could preempt Cain's trials, reducing variables.
The threatening Cain could end as mere side character with the special job [Gabriel's Sword]. That issue could wait till later. Not worth serious thought now.
Deciding to kill Cain or not could wait too. No point wasting time on impossibilities here.
'…!'
As his long deliberation ended, Judah startled at his own thoughts.
What had he been thinking?
Kill now because he'd be dangerous later?
Had killing felt this casual before?
His values were shifting astonishingly. He felt the change personally.
"Judah!"
A sudden loud call of his name made him open his eyes.
Cain was right in front, uncomfortably close.
"Judah? Still hurting? Should I get Grandpa?"
"No, I'm fine. Really, just back off a bit."
What was this guy doing so close? Fine with a girl, but same-sex contact creeped him out. Judah sighed as Cain obediently stepped back.
"Alright, what's up?"
"You collapsed at the temple yesterday too, so I came to check. Didn't tell anyone else—they might not believe me—but telling you first. Yesterday..."
Cain's eyes sparkled as he looked up at the ceiling, reminiscing.
"I saw the angel! Really, she was so beautiful! First time seeing anyone that gorgeous. You saw her too? You were there."
"No. I didn't. Just got suddenly sleepy and passed out."
Cain looked disappointed. The angel Cain saw was Holy King Gabriel. To cheer the sulking boy, Judah tossed a question.
"Anyway, an angel appeared? Did you talk?"
"She came down from heaven with a request for me!"
Cain recounted his conversation with her. Unnecessary details Judah didn't need to hear. What mattered: Cain became Gabriel's Sword, and they'd be enemies ahead.
Someday, they'd fight over fragments. And he'd have to take Cain's life. No good getting more attached. But if detaching feelings were that easy, his heart wouldn't ache like this.
"She called me brave? Can't believe it, right?"
"No, I can. But I gotta go now. Told Tia I'd be right back home, but a day's passed. She's probably worried."
"Ugh, that tiger auntie?"
Judah chuckled at Cain's words.
"Rude, Cain. She's pretty. Like how you said the angel was."
To Judah, at least, she was as beautiful as an angel. If Tia were here, she'd chew Cain out for "auntie"—or kick him. As he exited the room, he startled at someone leaning against the wall nearby.
"Hey, our pretty and lovable Judah. And... dog-like Cain?"
* * *
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Tip 17. Players recover stamina and fatigue faster when eating food. Especially if it's expensive, greasy, and delicious—the effect is even greater! So eat without worry. Tastes good? 0 kcal!
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「Status Window」
[Name: Judah Arshel]
[Title: None]
[Level: 12]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revives Remaining: 1]
[Strength: 35 (D) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 35 (D) / Potential S]
[Agility: 30 (D) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 41 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 51 (C) / Potential S]
[Knowledge: 17 (F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 84 (A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 11]
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========== Afterword ==========
Got a lot to write in the afterword today.
1. Thinking about it while writing, I don't think I needed to explain why Cain was set up so strongly in the previous part. Since Judah became the protagonist instead of Cain, it won't proceed exactly like the game anyway. Even if it does, Judah can steal all of Cain's events.
Like taking Cain's future companions, or preemptively dealing with betrayers. Then, as mentioned in the main story, Cain ends as a side character. (Probably.)
Of course, I'm truly grateful for the sharp points raised.
I might forget details while writing and cause setting errors!
That's why I can't close comments.
ㅎ Might hear bad things, but pointing out errors I miss keeps me from going astray.
2. Reading comments, I planned some smut, but surprisingly many want story focus with less smut(...) Totally unexpected. And many support even without smut, so I'm a bit torn. Never planned heavy smut, but will tone it down as intended. Moderately.
3. Thanks to coupons, I'd love daily doubles, but pre-written stock is limited, so daily is burdensome. If smut-focused, I could write and post same day, but to repay your love(?) I'm pondering story and future plot while writing. For more engaging progression. So don't hate if no frequent doubles.