The Worst Reunion with My Master (1)
One week after the entrance ceremony at Lichten Academy.
Naturally, I wasn't living out some dramatic academy life like a novel protagonist.
Not that I'd expect to run into heroines, lucky breaks, or hidden pieces—I wasn't even the protagonist of a novel or game to begin with.
Besides, my personality meant that once classes ended, I'd hole up in my room and focus solely on developing Luddera. No room for new encounters there.
Given Lichten Academy's nature as a gathering spot for most of the continent's noble bloodlines, there were plenty of people with backgrounds far surpassing my status as a duke's son. My pedigree probably didn't mean much anyway.
...Or did it?
Even accounting for that, wasn't the lack of people approaching me a bit extreme?
I mean, I was still from a duke's family.
It was starting to feel kinda hurtful.
"Yo. Classes fun?"
As I left the lecture hall after the final lesson, a golden-haired hunk with tanned skin raised a hand in greeting and approached.
"Valt."
At least I wasn't completely friendless.
There was Valt, the guy from the Republic I'd met right before entering the dorms on my first day at the academy—my neighbor and new buddy.
"Ugh, finally done with the first week's classes. Let's grab some food."
For some reason, after our first meeting in the dorms, he'd kept striking up conversations with me.
Considering his naturally friendly vibe, he probably had no shortage of other friends, but thanks to him, I never had to eat alone.
The restaurant buzzed with the clamor of countless voices blending into a lively chaos. We settled into seats at one of the dining halls prepared for academy students and placed our orders.
"I'll have the tenderloin steak with cheese fondue."
"Beef stew for me."
"Orders received. Please wait a moment."
"Hey, buddy, you hear about that thing?"
As the waiter left with our order slip, Valt wiped his hands with a napkin and asked.
"What thing?"
"The stuff about Labyrinth Tower floor 2."
"Oh."
The massive new content added to Luddera for the first time: Labyrinth Tower.
It had caused even bigger ripples across the continent than I'd imagined.
"The Beast King Brigand declared he'd solo-cleared the Sprigganz Great Desert—that's floor 2, right? He said all beastkin will carry on the will of the perished Duamutef and worship GM, Luddera's one true god from now on."
"Y... yeah."
The Beast King smashing through content I'd designed for raid parties single-handedly was ridiculous enough, but his declaration of worship for GM left me speechless for a good while.
Who would've thought he'd mistake Duamutef, a god I made up, for a real one?
Guess I underestimated how this world's people would buy into virtual reality.
Every beastkin who heard the Beast King's words accepted GM as their new and only god, turning him into a faith with massive followers overnight.
The problem is that this faith stems entirely from a misunderstanding.
I could only imagine the beastkin rage when the truth came out. Terrifying just thinking about it.
"Religion stuff's whatever, but the real deal is that the Beast King snagged a huge chunk of territory in Luddera in one go. So, whaddya say? Wanna climb Labyrinth Tower together?"
"Labyrinth Tower?"
"Yeah! Weekend starts after today—no classes for two days. Plenty of time before next week!"
An invite to play Luddera together.
First time I'd heard that.
My family or Kartesia knew I was the world's master, so they'd never suggested it.
"Worried it's too tough? Don't sweat it. You know who I am? Owner of a Rare class. I'll protect ya."
Valt thumped his chest proudly.
"M... maybe?"
For the first time since reincarnating, I might actually get to game properly with a friend.
Why did I create Luddera in the first place?
To escape this boring world's tedium, right?
I'd been too busy building, maintaining, and patching it to enjoy it until now. Maybe I'd finally fulfill that dream.
"Sweet! After we eat, back to the dorms and straight into Luddera!"
Wait, hold up.
My excitement over adventuring with a friend hit a snag.
Wouldn't using my GM account kinda defeat the purpose if we're playing together?
...Gotta whip up a lowbie alt quick.
Everything in Luddera bent to my will anyway, so it wouldn't take long.
"By the way, the Beast King said GM, Luddera's god, temporarily revived their god Duamutef. Is GM really that powerful? Enough to resurrect a dead god?"
Valt tilted his head.
"Nah, no way. Just a god stuck in a game world who can't even come out. Can't be that impressive."
That's me...
This world's perception of Luddera was twisting views of GM into something weird.
Burdening for the actual GM—me.
What god? Outside illusion magic, I couldn't even cast real spells in reality.
"The faith the beastkin have in GM right now? Totally wrong."
"Wrong how?"
"Yeah. Probably the Beast King Brigand got it mixed up. GM made up all the beastkin gods—they're just illusions..."
BAM
"Can't let that slide."
A slender hand suddenly slammed our table.
Twitch twitch
"...Beastkin?"
I turned to see a beastkin girl with round, cute ears glaring coldly down at me.
"Tigerkin!"
Among beastkin, renowned for their overwhelming combat prowess.
The legendary Beast King Brigand, who once annihilated a nation's army solo, was tigerkin too. To humans, they were walking weapons of slaughter.
"Uh... wh-who are you?"
Even Valt stammered, uncharacteristically.
"Perigit, devout follower of GM. As His servant, I can't abide insults to my savior. Human, retract your words and apologize at once."
"...Huh?"
Did I hear that right?
Me apologize to me?
What kind of nonsense—
"Or else..."
Yellow-black tiger stripes emerged on Perigit's skin.
The beastkin ability: shifting to combat form.
"I'll eliminate the Lord's enemy here and now."
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa!"
Valt flung his arms wide, blocking between us.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
What the—? This girl seriously gonna kill me over dissing GM?
She's insane!
And that "Lord" is me!
The absurdity nearly made me laugh, but I snapped to action. This was reality, not Luddera. Without GM powers, no way I'd survive a slaughter machine's attack.
I shot to my feet, hands outstretched.
"I take it back! Totally! I spoke out of turn and blasphemed the great GM! I offer all I have in atonement!"
Apologizing for insulting myself. What a farce.
"..."
Perigit's half-beast transformation receded, fur retracting.
"...Fine."
She nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Never insult the Lord again."
"...Phew."
Seeing her calm, Valt and I sighed in relief.
"But you've sinned by blaspheming Him. This won't cleanse it. Human, atone in the Lord's sanctuary."
Perigit crossed her arms and continued.
Sanctuary? I have one of those?
First I'd heard.
"GM's sanctuary? Where?"
Valt asked her.
"Luddera. The world He created and rules."
"Luddera?"
She was telling me to log into Luddera?
Crunch
Someone watched Albus chatting with Perigit from afar.
"Beastkin... girl."
Albus's sister, Adelina Bernier, ground her teeth in perfect stealth, unnoticed by others.
"I've blocked every threat approaching Albus."
She'd missed one.
Her way to protect her frail little brother from this dangerous world: intimidate and cut off anyone who approached.
Albus's beauty drew many girls, seeing him as a delicate pretty boy, so Adelina had plenty to fend off.
'H-Hiiik! Sword Ghost! My bad! I won't come near!'
Who knew the "Sword Ghost" nickname she'd dismissed would help? For her brother, she'd do anything.
She'd succeeded so far.
"Slipped through."
Albus looked so happy laughing with his new friend that she hadn't stopped the beastkin girl.
"How dare she... how dare she approach my Albus...!"
It wasn't exactly friendly, but to Adelina, whose love had twisted, it looked that way.
Crunch
That thieving stray cat had to be totally excluded from her beloved brother.