4 - Mainhwa (2)
[100%... Complete.]
[Traits can now be viewed.]
[Inheritance has occurred.]
[A trait from the previous world can be received.]
Inheritance Complete
Traits Unlocked
Whoa? The status windows popping up in front of me feel strangely familiar. More than just comforting—they're downright nostalgic. Because this is the UI from Reincarnated Hero Volume 1, straight out of the game.
I'm clearly possessing a body in a novel world, but the system is a game system? I checked the first notification first: traits.
[Villain] [Lv.1] (0/100)
Regardless of your looks or connections, you might not make a great first impression.
[Supporting Character] [No Lv.]
You are a third-rate villain.
If your actions cause too much ripple effect, the worldline might collapse.
However, acting like a proper supporting character earns 'Supporting Character Points,' which allow additional growth.
During main events, you can undertake 'Supporting Character Quests.'
This trait cannot be deleted or replaced.
[Plausibility] [Lv.3] (0/500)
You're handsome enough to rank in the academy's top ten.
You might easily charm others.
(*This trait is currently deactivated due to Villain trait.)
"...What the hell is this..."
It's all just gag-element traits clustered together. Even the one semi-useful trait, Plausibility, is deactivated. Sure, it gets replaced by another general trait later, but this starting setup is the absolute worst.
Quest Added
Main Event 1
Mission Objective: Help with Edwin's awakening—in true supporting character fashion.
Reward: Supporting Character Points 100
Time Remaining: 11 hours 59 minutes
The sassy tone feels like it's picking a fight, but the quest content is downright vicious. What, just turn into a rag and flop around?
"Whatever, inheritance... that's the important one."
The characters in Reincarnated Hero aren't called inheritors for nothing. Simply put, in-game terms, it's like the prophecies or unique abilities you get at character creation. For example, Aria's inheritance ability as Healer—
You have received the Revelation of Healing. Through holy power, you can heal others, with dramatically increased effects.
—or the protagonist Edwin as Executioner—
You are a humanity-saving existence capable of slaying the Demon King. You grow continuously through your destined fate and wield great power against what you perceive as evil.
—Kaeran as Slayer—
You may be fated to carry many sins. Strong against groups, with a Fever Time mode.
Like that—each character gets unique traits tied to specific events or storylines, giving them personality and specialization. Once set, these inheritance abilities can't be changed, but they can be upgraded with light or dark energies. Of course, whether that's possible here remains to be seen.
The problem is Lev Denek's inheritance ability... This feels ominous.
"Please!"
Hermit
Having launched a confession attack on the first day of the new semester, you are fated to live like a dead mouse through your school life.
A perfect outsider, your presence periodically fades.
+View Details
"?"
A giant question mark stamps itself on my brain. Of all the timings for possession, it had to be the exact moment this Lev idiot bombed a confession... My fate got stuck with some no-name Hermit crap.
What the fuck, give it back.
This once-in-a-lifetime revelation got decided without my input. Destiny is destiny—you can't change it—and nothing could be more lamentable.
One status window left...
[You will receive one trait from the previous world.]
"......"
My last hope to avoid the Mainhwa ending hinges on this...
[Root Gamer] [Lv.1]: A special ability granted to you, who only enjoyed classic games in the previous world.
1. Gamer (0/500)
The Reincarnated Hero system is borrowed exclusively for 'you'.
+View Details
2. Root (0/500)
The Reincarnated Hero closed beta patch version is applied exclusively for 'you'.
+View Details
Root Gamer...? It suits me perfectly, since I ditched the sequels, obsessed over the first game until I was sick of it. Especially the closed beta version—that's pre-open beta, super early stage...
The question is whether this directly helps in taking down the Demon King.
"Hold on...?"
My usually sluggish neurons kick into gear. I rummage through the drawer again and caress that pendant.
Rarity: A-
A necklace that responds if the wearer intensely desires 'power.' Said to allow communication with demons.
Current Despair: 100/100
Usable
"As expected."
The clean classic UI greets me. So, this world follows novel rules, but I get game player judgments. That's why the status windows appear.
The key is the patch version being closed beta.
'Confession, Hermit, Supporting Character, solo CBT judgment, Demon's Whisper...'
I mutter the situation so far. And I realize...
'If I play this right, this could be insanely broken?'
Mainhwa starts with offering your soul to a demon for a contract. You borrow demonic mana for immense power, but a weak human vessel gets overwhelmed by mana beyond its capacity, leading to rampage. The body hits its limit, and to forcibly compensate, it fuses with a mana beast.
So, to stretch my life thin and long, I should toss this ominous pendant right now... but Lilith probably thinks I've already been consumed by it...?
A hilariously perfect revenge plot against that shitty author pops into my head.
"You demon bastard, come at me."
I immediately slip the pendant around my neck. And resolve myself.
Today, I'm becoming a Main in earnest.
At the same time, in the Blue Dorm, second-year student cafeteria. It's dinnertime, so plenty of cadets are eating, but one draws all the male cadets' gazes: Lilith Larosel.
With her jet-black hair, she's enjoying dinner with the student council members. But she can't hide her humming, so secretary Laura asks.
"Lilith, you seem in a good mood."
"Yeah, especially today."
"Because Lev Denek finally got expelled?"
"Who's that?"
"..."
Laura sometimes found Lilith eerie like this. Normally poised and kind, but she drew lines sharply.
"Ah, nothing."
Well, she's the student council president, after all. Meanwhile, contrary to Laura's thoughts, Lilith's mind was full of Lev Denek.
That day, after losing to the guy she'd ignored, his frustrated face...
"Edwin, you want to kill Edwin?!"
"Fuck, if I'd been a bit more serious, that punk's nothing! You know that, right?!"
"I let my guard down! That bastard cheated like a lowlife. His status is trash from the start!"
"A kid who's only ever gripped a pickaxe his whole life..."
"If not for him, Aria, Melissa, those bitches would all be mine!"
"Cute toy."
His face consumed by rage and inferiority, clinging to her like a tantrum-throwing child, unable to contain his anger. Men are simple creatures, so—
"It's okay. You did nothing wrong. You were just true to your instincts, right?"
A little pat on the back,
"I've felt that way too."
A little fake empathy,
"There is one way to get stronger..."
A little guidance,
"You'll be back in the student council, right?"
A little sweet whisper...
"Hehe."
What she gave him was none other than the Demon's Whisper. A rare item, but no matter.
'I can just retrieve it.'
With his trash body and soul, he couldn't handle direct demonic power. So, set up the conduit, fuse him with a mana beast.
'First Mainhwa test.'
Just imagining it sent shivers of delight through her body.
'Pathetic underclassman, wonder if you've decided by now...?'