Chapter 2 - Wait, I... (2)
Chapter 2 - Wait, I... (2)
Right now, I am alone with Helena.
In a space that looks like the basement of Eisenblut, yet somehow shows a clear sky and sun—what kind of magic did they use?
Feeling the freshness of the grass and trees growing around me, I was the first to break this suffocating silence.
"What do I need to do?"
"Come over here and stand. According to standard procedure, you'd only need to use this measuring orb containing my power, but for you, I'll personally take a look."
She smiled brightly and beckoned me to come closer to the table where she was sitting.
Originally, I had come to demand an explanation in the name of my family, asking if something was wrong, but once I saw Helena's face, I was certain that option was off the table.
"Let's find out exactly what your true talent is."
As I stepped forward, she made me place my hand on the crystal orb.
How units get their traits—something that never appeared in the game.
That process was unfolding right before my eyes.
'Since it's come to this, I hope it comes out as mediocre as possible. No, actually, being complete trash is fine too. Better to be a laughingstock than to die.'
Back when I was a player, I had longed for overpowered traits, but that was absolutely not the case now.
Having good traits and catching the Player's eye meant being constantly deployed on the most dangerous and grueling missions.
Recalling how I had treated units all this time, I broke into a cold sweat.
Call me a hypocrite if you want, I don't care.
I didn't want to be rolled around like a consumable item.
I just want to live well as a rich, carefree young master.
"Th-these are... how is this even possible..."
But seeing Helena's reaction—going from smiling brightly to gradually becoming horrified—it seemed my desperate wish wouldn't be granted this time either.
Everything was happening the opposite of what I wanted, as if it were mocking me.
「Strong Spirit」, a trait that belongs to the top tier among mental traits chosen by <Ultimate Field> users.
It provides strong immunity to fear, confusion, brainwashing, etc., and significantly strengthens the mental fortitude of combat units, which would otherwise constantly erode if not carefully managed.
It's considered one of the essential traits to have if you want to use a unit as a core combatant.
Helena said that talent was currently dwelling within me.
Next were 「Martial God」 and 「Dead Eye」. They are called Tier 1 traits for melee-only characters and ranged-only characters, respectively.
「Martial God」 increases proficiency with all types of weapons quickly and enhances their power; 「Dead Eye」 drastically increases the accuracy and attack speed of all types of ranged attacks.
"It's extremely rare for someone to possess both of these at the same time."
Helena was so surprised that she even stuttered.
She was actually right.
In the hundreds of tries I made to clear Hardcore mode, I could count on one hand the number of combat units that grew into all-rounders for both melee and ranged combat with both of these traits.
"And that's not even the end of it. You... you have a fourth talent even before awakening."
Commonly called 4-socket.
The maximum number of traits a unit can have when first acquired by a player from basic facilities like Eisenblut is four.
There's no limit to the number of traits one can have, but increasing the number of sockets is as hard as picking stars from the sky anyway.
In other words, a unit that comes out with 4 sockets from the start has immense value just for that.
The 4th trait I have is 「Limit Break」.
Naturally, I know what this trait is.
When a unit's HP drops below 50%, it immediately restores a certain percentage of HP and provides a momentary stat boost.
There's a recoil after the effect ends, but it was a trait with a composition that couldn't be anything but overpowered in any game.
"This is an absurd level."
As I just listened blankly, Helena opened her mouth again and leaned her face in.
I could see her violent chest, partially exposed by her off-shoulder dress, swaying.
Looking at her face, the gentle and relaxed smile had largely disappeared.
"You were born with incredible talent, I'm telling you! Leon Leberk, aren't you surprised? Is that why you're reacting like that because you don't know yet?!"
"...I see."
For some reason, she seemed more excited than I, the person involved.
She seemed unable to understand my reaction, which was beyond calm and appeared somewhat troubled.
I would have been this excited if it were someone else's business, but unfortunately, I was the one involved.
"It's a chance to become a great hero, achieve accomplishments, and elevate your honor!"
In the setting, the continental powers have been suffering from the erosion of the Demon World for a very long time and want to overcome it.
It's like a single wish that transcends factions and races.
Accomplishments, honor, rewards.
People in this world might think it's worth risking their lives for that.
But as an outsider, I'm telling you I don't want any of that!
'Can I survive?'
Holding my throbbing forehead, my mind was filled only with the thought that I had to survive.
If I get dragged in front of the Player like this, it's a given that I'll be chosen.
Even if a being like the Player didn't exist, it didn't seem like the higher-ups would just leave me alone.
"I heard a monster joined the 1279th batch this time."
As an Insight Officer and a key figure at Eisenblut, there's no reason for Helena to keep her mouth shut.
While I was unpacking in the room I was assigned, the rumor spread rapidly throughout Eisenblut.
In the game, it was the end once you summoned a unit, but reality was a bit different.
I had to keep belonging to Eisenblut, repeating training, education, and missions.
True to the name of a military academy, there were batches, seniors, juniors, and peers.
A place teeming with pure talents picked from all over the empire, regardless of status, by Helena's Insight Eye.
I had landed in such a place. Becoming the subject of rumors as a monster with insane talent.
"This is a situation I really hate..."
I sighed while clumsily putting on the uniform I had been issued.
The 1279th batch I'm supposed to join had already finished gathering and started basic training weeks ago.
It's embarrassing to say, but I'm not particularly sociable. I also don't prefer situations where I get excessive attention.
Even worse, a situation where I'm noticed from the start. It's the worst in many ways.
If I entered among those who had already formed their own cliques, there was a high probability I'd be an outsider.
[Post: Guys, help a newbie out. Which one should I pick from these?]
ㄴWhat am I looking at right now?
ㄴWow, what is that first one? Crazy.
ㄴ4-socket with Strong Spirit, Martial God, Dead Eye, and Limit Break all at once from the start?
ㄴWhy are you even debating this? Click the first one right now. The one that says Leon.
ㄴIsn't this all-time great even by gallery standards? What's the difficulty? As long as it's not beginner difficulty where you can't upload unit shares, it's fine.
ㄴHe's young too, his age is also OP.
But at that moment, I received a bigger shock than the moment I opened my eyes in Leon's body after dying.
A strange screen that suddenly popped up in front of my eyes without any warning. And the familiar letters flickering on that screen.
'UltiField Gallery.'
But along with the breathtaking surprise, a familiarity imprinted on my body also came.
The internet community where users gathered, which I used to always keep open on the side while playing <Ultimate Field>.
There's no way I wouldn't recognize that site, where I used to write posts and comments as naturally as breathing.
'Is that... me?'
The photo uploaded along with the post was a very familiar game play screen.
Specifically, the window for pre-selecting units to scout later at Eisenblut.
Among various characters made with cute dot graphics.
The familiar name Leon Leberk, with silver hair and red eyes, and 4 traits were listed one after another.
ㄴThe difficulty is Hardcore, though.
ㄴ????? Are you crazy?
ㄴWhy is a newbie who doesn't even know what good traits are picking that, you crazy bastard?
ㄴI originally only play every game on the highest difficulty lol.
ㄴIt's ruined, just ruined.
ㄴIt's over, it's over. If that goes up on the unit share market, tons of people will be drooling over it...
ㄴ(Emoticon of a cute character giving the middle finger)
While I was examining the content of the post, comments were being posted in real-time.
People were sighing and throwing stones in the comments at the OP's comment about it being Hardcore.
The reason they were sighing, as mentioned in the comments, was likely because of the unit share market.
Because in the case of someone who has cleared above Normal difficulty, if they upload their unit to the share market, other players can randomly recruit that unit as a mercenary.
Now that users who have cleared Hardcore mode, which has particularly severe variables, are few, Hardcore challenge users around the world who have judged that there's no answer are desperate to get good units shared somehow.
There are even people who are determined to just repeat unit trait grinding on Normal difficulty.
But if the unit dies or the game isn't cleared, it's meaningless, so it's natural for other users to be disappointed.
'Wait, Hardcore? Newbie?'
However, what was important to me, frozen in that spot, wasn't that right now.
Now that I've become a mere unit, the Player exists, just as expected.
Even worse, that Player is a newbie who hasn't even played the game much, yet is a crazy... no, a person who shows off by playing every game only on the hardest difficulty.
"..."
I held my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut.
I couldn't bear to stop the possibility of a third life, which might or might not exist, from naturally coming to mind.