Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Establishing the Hierarchy is a Serious Matter.
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Duke opened his eyes to find himself sitting in front of his familiar computer.
He was momentarily startled by the sudden appearance of the PC.
But following the ingrained memories in his body, he sat down in the chair and turned it on.
As if it had become instinct beyond mere habit, he launched a fighting game, queued up for a match.
And a few minutes later.
"I hit first! Why is that their frame advantage?!"
"Fuck off. Fine. Go ahead and play solo all day."
"Aaaargh!! What the hell are guns doing in a fighting game?!"
Like any game, fighting games had their share of so-called cheap characters.
Duke had started with a romantic pick out of gamer pride, but once reason snapped, he inevitably pulled out the cheap one too.
"Ahh. It's not cheap if I do it."
But the happiness didn't last.
Bang! Bang!
The keyboard keys flew like popcorn.
"Fuck! Damn it!"
Duke got mirror-matched right away.
And by the legendary big brother of the fighting game scene, beaten with a traditional character—no excuse there.
Finally reaching his limit, he rubbed his brow and quit the game.
When he was climbing ranks, there was at least a small sense of accomplishment, but now at the top rank, even that was gone.
Suddenly, he recalled a friend asking why he kept grinding without parking at max rank, just stressing himself out.
"Just inertia."
He muttered to the empty air with no one to hear.
"Sigh. Time for some mental detox."
Mumbling in his empty room, Duke opened a webtoon.
Novels were finished, anime dropped tomorrow... Ah, webtoons.
After reading this week's episode of I Don't Want to Be Emperor?, hitting like, he suddenly had nothing to do.
'Don't wanna go back to that stressful fighting game... Ugh. Dynasty warriors it is.'
He launched a new game.
Hexion Dynasty Warriors
As the name suggested, pick a character and mow down hundreds, thousands of mob soldiers—a perfect stress reliever.
It had RPG elements for variety each run, diverse builds.
Even had a story and commands despite being a warriors game; action was top-notch.
Above all, parries, dodges—practically every modern action element.
Controls, convenience, difficulty, camera were divisive issues, but aside from that, solid game.
"You get used to it~"
Motion sickness even after adaptation was a bonus.
Thinking that, Duke created a character.
'What concept this time.'
Custom helmet and uniform first.
Weapon: greatsword. Main magic: telekinesis, some support spells...
Misc traits and skills set...
'Huh? Feels familiar.'
Feeling déjà vu, he stood to hit the bathroom before finalizing.
Clink.
In the process, he knocked over the cola-filled mug on the desk.
It had migrated to the desk edge during his keyboard shotgun frenzy.
Watching the cola spill onto the power strip, Duke remembered.
"Oh, right. I died once."
I opened my eyes.
Unfamiliar ceiling.
I'd had a sticky nightmare, but didn't bolt up.
I'm the badass Final Boss, after all.
Even getting up has to be charismatic.
In this world, anyone might be watching—you can't show a single gap.
I rose slowly from the bed, rolling my shoulders.
Crack.
I'd love a refreshing shower, but no such luxury in this fucking medieval fantasy world.
Could draw well water and wash in the inn's backyard, but a Final Boss scrubbing his back there? Nah.
That said, I don't skip washing.
Duke's a charismatic Final Boss, not some medieval English noble patching with perfume.
Fortunately, I'd prepared a solution to this contradiction long ago.
"Purify."
Shalala!
A glow enveloped me, like it came with sound effects.
A tweaked standard purification spell to mimic a proper wash.
Added a few more: shaved, trimmed hair, groomed.
This routine's over a century old now.
And from here, today's new routine begins.
Pulled on my helmet, donned the sharp uniform from yesterday's tailor.
Finally, the badass cape—
Ta-da.
Here I am, the sharp Final Boss.
"Ahem. Cough."
Fantasy over. Back to serious mode.
I checked my outfit once more, headed to Rex's room.
Knock knock.
The door cracked open.
Instead of Rex, A greeted me through the gap.
"Who are you?"
Correction.
Not greeted—more like wary.
The white tiger girl in maid attire glared.
The clothes Rex bought her yesterday.
20% Rex's taste, 80% her will—maid outfit.
'She actually wears it.'
In the original, short on cash, it lacked ornaments, but here money flowed, so a refined design for a maid.
As I admired the outfit, her sharp gaze fixed on my helmet.
"It's D, right? What do you want so early?"
Swish—thud thud.
Her tail hit the doorframe.
I'm no expert on feline expressions, but anyone could see the wariness.
Tail aside, she actively signaled her mood with a near-snarl vibe.
Yes.
A hates me right now.
Simple reason.
I hit her with killing intent instead of hello—why like me?
Still, I had plenty to say about her attitude.
'Heh. Who's the beast? Petty over one little thing.'
Of course, if someone drew a sword at me on first meet, I'd snap their neck—but that's me being petty.
Future Empress needs magnanimity.
What, still like this? Not a housecat.
White tiger beastkin—not feline?
'Assuming beastkin act like animals is racist. Bleat.'
Lost in pointless thoughts, she broke the silence, unable to bear it.
"Rex is still sleeping, D."
"Duke."
"Pardon?"
"Duke. Just as you have the name Ari, I have one too."
A revealed yesterday: her name's Ari.
Real name: Arabella.
Uses Ari daily.
At my response, her tail-thudding stopped.
Wariness easing? No, illusion.
"Hic."
Oh dear.
Not wary—scared.
Sure, superstitions linger here that reapers kill when named, but this scared?
Seeing her flinch confirmed it.
'Yup, kitty.'
What valiant white tiger.
This way, talk wouldn't progress by day's end, so I peered past her head.
She'd cracked the door to block view, but height's unbeatable.
Inn rooms aren't huge; from the entrance, I spotted Rex past her.
"Mmnya..."
Sun high, yet Rex scratched belly in bed alone.
But he'd scooted to one corner, dent in the other side's blanket...
'Slept with Ari, huh.'
Their convo was predictable.
Bed? No, floor.
Bickering led to sharing the bed.
Under the helmet, a pleased smile; I looked back at Ari.
No fixing her mood here. What fits my RP?
After thought, a line came.
"Tell me when Rex has rested. I'll be in the back yard."
"Y-yes?"
She replied stiffly, pretending no fear; I left Rex's room.
Out in the back yard, Duke meditated.
Or so he called it—his mind raced with future plans.
'Hmm. Can't afford to look bad to the future Empress.'
Protected heroine from NTR, but walled off on first meet—no hostility wanted.
Just friendly brother-in-law vibes.
But it soured from the start.
Fine now, but left alone, empire splits before founding.
'Not East-West Rome.'
Duke wanted to avoid that.
Of course, if worried, could ask why the killing intent—but...
'How could I hold back.'
Honestly, as loyal vassal, couldn't overlook it.
Meditation(?) ended; Duke decided.
'Alright.'
Project: Befriend Ari starts.
Just as meditation wrapped, Ari and Rex emerged from the inn.
Duke sensed them but feigned ongoing meditation.
"..."
About two minutes later, he uncrossed arms, ended it.
[Meditating, so I waited.]
Rex typed one-handed without looking, other covering a yawn.
Post-week travel, rescued A, then shopping—tired makes sense.
'Some sparks between them yesterday... maybe?'
Duke stayed outside the shop, avoiding flags.
Issue: post-killing intent, no talk—Ari still awkward.
But today, an event to bridge the emotional gap.
[Gonna check Ari's power today, right?]
"Yes, Rex."
Ari's combat training was scheduled.
After rescue, she declared herself Rex's maid.
Rex had no intent to keep her as servant.
She had hero qualities; formed Hero's Blood Oath on sight.
Thus, Rex strongly pushed her as combatant.
Ari stubbornly insisted on maid. (Odd fixation.)
Tug-of-war birthed "combat maid(?)"—ambiguous role.
Her current maid outfit: the result.
[Take good care of Ari, Duke.]
Rex messaged.
Originally, post-purchase, Rex threw her into combat immediately.
Rex excelled at tactical command, not individual training.
But this world had Duke.
With master teachers and fortunes everywhere, no reason not to use top instructor Duke.
'Potions to pharmacists, training to knights.'
Thus, Ari's combat training fell to Duke.
"Such high praise—honored."
'Jackpot, hierarchy time.'
Duke gladly accepted.
Training Rex's new subordinates solidified Second-in-Command spot.
Another reason: fresh noob to toy with.
Acting stern outside, inwardly childish excitement.
Duke geared for immediate training.
But before he spoke, Ari did.
"I don't acknowledge you."
The wary white tiger girl still.
"How're you gonna train me?"
Rex gave a wry smile.
[Ari. Duke's a good guy—don't be like that.]
Ari nodded there.
"I know."
First impressions: killing intent understandable x100.
If roles reversed, she'd kick anyone attacking Rex.
Emotionally miffed, but time heals.
But another reason she disliked Duke.
'If not for you...'
Without Duke, she'd be Rex's right hand.
She knew, though.
No Duke, no lab escape for Rex.
But given chance, she could've replaced him.
'Same 2nd Hierarchy anyway.'
Just her luck worse.
Dragged to lab with severed tendons, then mana/possession seals.
Given chance, she'd shine like Duke.
That conviction strengthened this morning with new power in her.
"I'm stronger than you."
Pfft!
Rex snorted at Ari's declaration.
Ari's brow twitched.
"Rex?"
[Sorry. Really sorry.]
"Not unreasonable. But after yesterday's oath with you, new power dwelled in me—it's different now."
Post-oath, post-bed-sharing, new skill awakened.
Unlike Duke, she sensed it clearly.
It boosted loyalty (and love) to Rex, but jealousy toward Duke too.
She firmly believed Duke's power came from his oath too.
'Yesterday's killing intent too...'
Definitely oath power.
Now she had it too—balance shifted, she overtook.
—Or so she thought.
Rex and Duke read her easily.
'Not even close...'
Rex wanted to deny.
Pre-oath Duke: human disaster. Post: natural calamity.
'Ari's skill is strong, sure...'
Explained her confidence.
Lv29 fangs threatening 3rd Hierarchy—broken skill.
Conditions met, even 4th viable.
But vs Duke? Irrelevant.
Hers would be massage to him.
Rex picked words to dissuade her recklessness.
'How to explain...'
He knew Duke's 9th Hierarchy via Perusal cheat skill.
She lacked it; couldn't share info.
Plus, Rex sucked at relationships.
No way to explain without hurting either.
Ari kept glaring; Rex dithered.
Duke found her awfully cute.
'One-day tiger. Peak bravery age.'
If 6th Hierarchy, he'd fist-hierarchy her.
But now Lv29.
For superhumans, puberty.
1-in-100 realm: superiority, smash house-sized rocks—confidence soars.
'Plus Lv29 in short <30 period—elite mindset time.'
Elite of elites in superhuman world.
Confidence inevitable.
Understanding, Duke found her climbing adorable.
'Skill too.'
He knew her skill.
Original no-Duke: made her true Second-in-Command, cheat.
But Duke unflinched.
'Trained so I beat you skill-less.'
He didn't expect oath skill from his talent.
Thus, trained to match endgame her.
Fresh noob snarling...
'Adorable.'
Best: magnanimous embrace over smackdown.
Duke ignored her attitude, turned.
"Follow."
"Hic!"
Misheard as "roof follow"? Hiccup again.
Duke clarified.
"To gauge your power, gear up first. To the smithy."
Cape fluttering, he led.
Cool departure.
Also messaged Rex.
[No worries. Got something in mind.]
[Good. Leaving it to you.]
Rex sighed relief.
En route to smithy, Duke thought.
'Decided.'
Relation: become her master.
'Empress's teacher...'
Heart raced at the thought.