The Tutorial Boss Prepares for Growth
Elena sheathed her sword only after slashing the scarecrow two more times, finally catching her breath. Borudo stroked his beard and nodded approvingly.
"Nice work for a girl. Clean cuts like that aren't as easy as they look."
"Really?"
"Whoever taught you did a damn good job."
"I've never had any lessons."
"Hmph. Trying to say you're some kind of prodigy? Whatever. Put the sword away."
Borudo tidied up the scarecrow. His skepticism was understandable. Anyone who could pick up a sword could hack at a dummy, but landing a single, precise strike like that? Not so simple. With experience, you develop an instinct for where and how to cut for maximum effect. The world looks stained with possibilities when you view it through Eck's eyes—like knowing exactly how this slash would cleave clean.
I'd inherited all of Eck's honed senses intact. What he'd picked up over at least three years of rolling in the dirt as an adventurer, Elena had grasped in a single day.
Genius is genius, huh.
She leaped past realms that took others years of grinding in one bound. That's what made a genius.
"Let's head out."
I gave Elena's shoulder a light pat and headed for the door.
"Oh, right."
She slid her sword into its scabbard and followed. I gave Borudo a casual wave that passed for a goodbye and stepped out of the forge.
The sun had fully set. Magic stone lanterns hanging under the eaves of the smithy cast a faint glow on the street.
"You said you've never studied swordsmanship, right?"
"Yes."
"You must've been planning to learn. Where were you thinking of going?"
"I heard the guild has sword instructors. They offer free lessons to female adventurers, so I was going to check it out tomorrow."
My memories crossed with Eck's.
Sword instructor.
Darko, the guild's sword teacher. A former C-rank adventurer with some achievements under his belt, recognized by the guild as talented. In the game, he was the sleazy type meant to evoke schoolyard harassment scenarios for academy students. Eck's memories painted him as human trash—a perfect match for Eck himself. He'd pretend to correct female adventurers' stances, groping them under the guise of instruction. Outwardly a diligent instructor with a wife and daughter, but behind closed doors, he'd booze it up with Eck, crudely rating women's bodies. Whose waist was slimmest, whose tits were firmest—sniffing and groping during "posture corrections."
Handing Elena over to that creep? The outcome was obvious. Talented girl. No backing. Prime pickings for him.
"Don't go to that guy."
"Huh? Why not?"
"If you want to learn swordsmanship, I'll teach you."
Elena stopped in her tracks and looked up at me, eyes swirling with suspicion, wariness, and confusion. A natural reaction. My words and actions didn't match up. But that contradiction was exactly the direction I was aiming for.
"Of course, teaching you comes with conditions."
"Another condition?"
"What do you mean 'another'? This is only the second one. And it's not hard."
I pointed my index finger at the sky.
"Don't go out tomorrow."
"Pardon?"
"No need to hit the guild or the hunting grounds. Stay home tomorrow and do nothing but rest."
"But I can't just—"
Elena stared at me in panic, then glanced up at where I'd pointed. A moon hung in the sky.
"Why?"
"Tomorrow's the Red Moon."
"Oh..."
Her expression shifted.
"If you're serious about being an adventurer, memorize the Red Moon cycle."
Tomorrow, the Red Moon rises. The day monsters go berserk.
"The Red Moon is a disaster that lasts a full day and night, once a month. The sky stays blood-red from dawn till dusk, and a crimson mist like heat haze blankets the forests."
"And the monsters..."
"Yeah, they go feral."
I gazed up at the moon. A full one gleamed round and bright.
"Even monsters that normally stay in their territories and rest peacefully wander out. Docile herbivores attack anything in sight. Veteran adventurers steer clear of the woods during the Red Moon."
The enchanted forest turns into a literal hellscape.
Elena swallowed dryly.
"Sure, some adventurers make exceptions. Monsters slain under the Red Moon drop materials saturated with mana. But that's for A-rank and up. Don't even dream of it."
I met her eyes squarely.
"Resting is part of training. I don't get why you're skimping on meds, but if someone else's life hangs on your exploits, you're not solo anymore. Keep that in mind and take it easy."
"...Got it."
Elena shut her mouth.
"Get home safe."
"Yes... thank you for your hard work."
She bowed politely at the fork in the road and we parted ways.
I waited until Elena vanished around the alley's end, then headed back to my lodging.
Red Moon.
I'd told her to rest, but I had no intention of sitting it out. The Red Moon was dangerous, sure. But danger meant opportunity. In the game, it was an event for farming rare materials.
And I need the cash.
Red Magic Stones. Monster cores mutated by the Red Moon's energy—worth several times more than standard ones.
Elena's growth would cost a fortune. To keep pace, I needed to start stockpiling now. From Eck's perspective, the materials for growth items were eye-wateringly expensive, popping up left and right. Some went for enough to buy a mansion per kilo. Snag them early, and her progress wouldn't stall.
More than that, I was the tutorial boss. The first in-game boss meant to die to the protagonist. I could babysit her only through the early game. Sure, she'd need the late game to match my physical stats, but the protagonist flipped the script on bigger foes through pure skill. If I slacked, she'd catch up fast.
Can't have that.
Material runs weren't just for her. Testing my skills as Eck and securing suppliers were goals too. And who knew—her growth items might fuel mine.
So I need a big score early on.
The Red Moon forest was it.
I pulled out the chest stashed with Eck's gear from my lodging. A mana sword, leather armor, gloves, boots, assorted potions. Fitting for a tutorial boss—solid rare gear.
I drew the sword and swung it lightly. Eck's ingrained instincts flowed from the hilt. Before my brain could process, my palms recalled it first.
Not bad.
I reviewed the sensation at my fingertips, blending both sets of memories and experience.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled deeply. Entering the Red Moon forest wasn't a decision to make lightly. This was reality—death was final.
But I have to go.
It wasn't my call so much as Eck's opportunistic nature. Sober and ruthlessly chasing success, his greed sharpened my mind like never before.
Greed. That was the driving force behind the Black Wolf Eck becoming a tutorial boss.
Morning came, but the world stayed dim. The sun was up, yet the mist lingered. Clouds soaked in blood turned the sky a sickly crimson glow. Not the warm red of sunset clouds—this was far more brutal.
The sun beyond the haze bore a red shadow. The Red Moon eclipsed it, glaring down on the world.
The streets were hushed. Normally bustling with market chatter at this hour, today they were near-empty. No open shops, and the few passersby hurried along. Even the city gates were sealed shut.
The guards controlling access nodded at my adventurer's badge.
"An A-rank, huh. Heading out on a day like this? Tough break."
"Save the pity for yourself."
Outside the city, the open fields oozed red mist into the air under the Red Moon's influence. The forest's vibe shifted completely in the haze.
"Never thought I'd see a day like this."
Eck's sentiment. He avoided needless risks. The Red Moon forest was opportunity land, but only because I had game knowledge. How would a local know where the real prizes spawned or what they looked like? Without guaranteed payoff, Eck's greed wouldn't trigger.
The Red Moon forest was eerily silent. No birdsong, no insect chirps. Just beastly howls echoing.
"Grrr."
A wolf appeared, eyes glowing red. Black-maned, fur bristling with crimson sheen all over.
That's a Red Moon monster.
So-called red monsters. Its bloodshot eyes locked on me hungrily, and it charged.
Just one wolf. Even pack hunters scattered under the Red Moon.
I dodged its fangs, twisting to slash its flank. My body moved as intended, Eck's sharp combat sense guiding the blade.
The wolf tumbled across the dirt.
"Damn, that's slick."
Was that my skill? I finished it off, pinning the corpse and slicing open its chest. Out came the core—a vivid red, unlike the clear crystals of normal magic stones.
The essence of the Red Moon.
That's what a Red Magic Stone meant. I pocketed it and plunged deeper, seeking more prey.
A few more skirmishes followed. Blind-with-rage wolves spotted me and attacked on sight. I repelled them, weighing down my pack.
"Kik!"
A goblin showed up too, flipping out at the sight of me. These cowards turned extra aggressive, charging headlong.
Still too much for Elena.
I cleaved the red goblin down, wrapping up another fight. I checked my condition.
Starting to get the feel.
Eck's instincts were etching into me bit by bit.
Then—
Thud.
A tremor shook the ground.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Crack!
Trees snapped. A massive shadow loomed through the mist, its hulking silhouette unmistakable. A giant form barreled between trunks—an ogre. Eyes blazing red, smashing everything in reach. It swung the log in its grip, hurling a pulverized wolf at my feet.
Its gaze, chasing prey, locked onto me.
"Ung?"
The ogre had spotted me.