Set Effect, You're My Points
Finally, I opened my eyes.
Fragments of memory floated up, but I couldn't recall what dream I'd been having. Hell, was it even a dream?
‘Still, one thing’s clear. I made a contract with someone.’
Because of that, I had to figure out who I really was.
It didn’t matter.
My original goal hadn’t changed one bit.
I turned my head.
Winz was asleep, clutching my hand tightly.
On the other side, Renoa was fiddling with some machine, scanning something.
“Hm?”
Our eyes met.
Those gem-like green eyes fixed on me, and I felt oddly refreshed—like breathing in pine-scented air.
“You’re awake?”
“Yeah. Been a while.”
“It’s been a whole day, you idiot.”
“Already?”
What the hell? That much time had passed?
Damn it. I must’ve really pushed myself.
My body felt mostly healed.
But my heart ached.
“Hey.”
Renoa filled me in on everything that happened.
It was shocking, to say the least.
Everything else aside—Winz?
Still, hearing she was doing better now lifted my mood.
I looked down at the sleeping elf.
Such a gentle, beautiful woman…
“Winz really…?”
“Don’t even ask. She was a completely different person. Like a berserker.”
Renoa sighed, clearly rattled. I blinked at her.
‘I knew Winz had berserker-related abilities. Father told me. But I never thought she’d go that wild. Why?’
It didn’t make sense.
Unless it was because of me?
‘Really? Because of me? What am I to her?’
A sigh escaped me. The moment it reached her, Winz’s eyes fluttered open.
She blinked groggily, like someone just waking up, then looked up at me.
“Oh my, M-Miss…?”
“Hey, Winz. How about a mojito in the Maldives?”
“Miss! Hwaaaah!”
I tried cracking a dumb joke to break the awkwardness, but she just lunged forward and hugged me.
Winz clung to me with all her strength, sobbing. I patted her back and nodded.
She must’ve been terrified.
That meant my condition had been pretty bad.
“Sorry I’m so weak. At least I survived, so be happy about that. As long as we’re alive, we can do anything, right?”
“I’m the one who’s sorry, hngh… but don’t ever do that again! I won’t let you! Hwaaaah!”
“…Your logic’s kinda backwards. Ahem, fine.”
I was genuinely scared what she’d do if I didn’t listen.
Winz was a total pervert, after all.
Hmm. Kinda looking forward to it?
Her familiar scent hit me after so long.
It was wonderful.
Mature, with that deep coffee-like richness.
Just smelling it made me feel stronger. Ah, I’m turning into a pervert too. Great.
“I missed you so much, I was so worried! You idiot Miss!”
“Uuuugh…”
Winz rubbed her cheeks against mine, smearing tears everywhere.
It was embarrassing as hell.
Was she doing this on purpose?
“Alright, alright! Ahem. By the way, where’s Vile?”
Renoa answered.
“No idea. He was found at that bakery he always visits around this time yesterday, and we haven’t heard anything since.”
“Then he’s already…?”
Renoa shook her head, her red hair swaying.
“No. The territory and the Life Tree are both fine.”
I let out a sigh of relief without thinking.
Whatever happened, it could’ve been way worse.
Thank god.
‘Anything but the Life Tree going to shit. That’d be a nightmare.’
Anyway, I couldn’t just sit around here. I stood up.
Winz gave me a playful look.
“Oh my, you should rest more!”
“Nah, if I’m better then there’s no point hesitating. I need to move now!”
Screw it. I’d just treat rehab like a light warm-up.
I couldn’t afford to waste time.
Not while we had no idea where Vile was. I had to stop him before he caused more trouble.
But first, there was something I needed to do.
With that, I left the guild.
Winz immediately stuck close to my side.
“Where are we going?”
“The blacksmith.”
We headed to the nearest forge.
I didn’t know how good they were, but I’d have to hope for the best.
I handed over all the materials I’d gathered, the enhancement stones, and a pair of mass-produced leather boots.
“Hmm…”
The blacksmith, whose upper body muscles looked like they could crush boulders, let out a low hum.
He examined everything I gave him, then raised an eyebrow.
“Where the hell did you get all this?”
“I managed somehow.”
“Who are you?!”
“A hero.”
Only then did he nod.
Being a hero meant wealth and fame, after all.
Even if it meant risking your life every day.
“Wait five minutes!”
“Sure, sure.”
While the blacksmith worked, I had something else to check.
Urgent Quest ‘Uninvited Guest from the Past’ — Special Clear!
Special conditions fulfilled!
Special Condition: Lose to Vile, but land at least one effective hit before defeat. Do not die!
World difficulty has risen from Hard to Rape.
I lost, but it still counts as cleared?
Wait a second. Why the hell is the reward like this?
‘What is this, a game? I already got wrecked by some plot twist I didn’t know about, and now it’s getting even worse? Are you insane?’
The fact that it had been Hard mode this whole time was ridiculous.
No wonder I kept getting blindsided by routes I didn’t know existed. It felt like shit, and apparently it really was shit.
Clang, clang! Fwoosh!
I steadied my breathing while listening to the blacksmith hammer away.
No, this could actually be an opportunity.
‘Think positive. If the difficulty went up, maybe the rewards got better too. Or I’ll meet interesting characters I didn’t know about.’
What’s done is done. I wasn’t a god—I couldn’t turn back time.
‘God…?’
I tilted my head for a moment, then focused.
More importantly, I had Origin Divine Art.
‘Plus I’ve got that broken skill, Origin Divine Art. Yeah, this is the kind of bet worth making!’
A laugh slipped out.
Bring it on.
I wasn’t going to lose again.
Even if I did lose, as long as I survived, I’d conquer everything eventually!
“All done!”
I returned to the forge.
The boots he’d made had a dark, obsidian-like sheen. They looked high-grade at a glance.
I picked them up and put them on.
Rarity: Masterpiece
Unique Effect ‘Lightstrike’: After using a skill, spell, or ability, the next attack’s power increases by 100%.
Unique Passive ‘Deathburn’: Nullifies resurrection or regeneration of undead, demons, and darkness-attribute targets.
Unique Passive ‘Erasing Traces’: Leaves no footprints wherever you go and remains undetected by monsters below your level.
「Does death exist, or does it not?」
The options were insane.
Well, that’s what you expect from a Masterpiece-grade item.
I was satisfied.
Then—
├─ Immunity to All Poisons: Unaffected by toxins or special energies.
└─ Breath of Freedom: Can breathe even in the ocean or outer space.
The set effect was incredibly useful.
God, it really felt like I’d stepped into a game instead of a novel.
‘Immune to special energies? Does that mean…’
Winz’s voice whispered right next to my ear.
“Haaah, Miss~♥”
“Ugh, what the—?!”
I jumped at the sudden whisper. Winz grinned and stepped back.
“Hehe, do you like them, Miss?”
“Yeah, the blacksmith’s pretty damn good. Business must be booming!”
This was exactly what I came for.
I stepped forward, thinking about what to do next.
“Should we look for Vile first?”
“Yeah. Even if he hesitates, he won’t give up that easily.”
“I still can’t believe he was that strong. I was shocked!”
“He’s got some successor’s power I’ve never heard of. Honestly, I’m suspicious about who gave it to him. Something’s off.”
It was absurd.
A successor’s power that shouldn’t even exist.
Who the hell set up this whole board?
Winz rubbed her cheek and nodded.
“You’re right. A successor’s power isn’t something just anyone can hand out. Hmm.”
“There must be some mastermind we don’t know about. Someone pretty powerful…”
“Should we back off then?”
“No. We’re gonna smash right into them! We’ve come this far!”
I had no desire to return to that mansion.
No one there welcomed me or supported me.
This world was where I belonged now.
We decided to head to the guild first.
“Let’s at least say thanks.”
“Yes!”
We were walking along smoothly when someone blocked our path.
It was a man wearing an old-fashioned red robe.
I’d never seen him before.
“Hey, move. Who the hell are you?”
“I hold no grudge. Die.”
“You can hold a grudge if you want. You’re my points, after all!”
Tatatatap—thud!
The man suddenly charged straight at me.
Fine by me.
In an instant he closed the distance and clamped a hand over my mouth.
At the same time, green energy burst out from him.
Fwoosh—splaaash!
Winz’s expression darkened.
“That’s poison…?”
I quickly yanked his hand away and shouted.
“Winz, stay back! You’ll get caught in it!”
I glared at the man.
He looked down at me with a completely expressionless, mask-like face.
“Melt and die.”
Gurgle—splaaash!
Poison instantly wrapped around my entire body.
Having toxins coating my skin wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“Too bad. Poison doesn’t work on me.”
“…What?!”
I drove my fist straight into his solar plexus. One solid hit.
Thud!
The man staggered.
‘Same rank as me—late Runner. But his grip strength is no joke.’
Origin Divine Art – Upper Heaven
Fwoosh—bang!
Origin Divine Art – Raging Current Palm
Thududududud—crack!
I hammered him with the Upper Heaven and Raging Current Palm combo until he was practically flattened.
Even so, the man stubbornly kept coming.
“I’ll drown you in poison!”
“Oh yeah? I thought you had no grudge!”
Whoosh—gurgle!
The man swung both hands, spraying poison.
The liquid gathered around me and, in an instant, trapped me like water in a pool.
I shouldn’t have been able to breathe at all.
But breathing felt perfectly fine.
Origin Divine Art – Flash Step
Whoosh—zip!
‘Feels refreshing. Guess my energy really does reduce the risks now.’
Grinning, I slipped behind him.
Just as I was about to strike, he reacted first.
“It won’t work!”
Whoosh—boom!
He spread his hands and blasted more poison.
Guy never learns.
I already told him poison doesn’t work.
“I was counting on that.”
Honestly, I was grateful he attacked again.
His neck glowed red.
I drove my fist straight into it.
Origin Divine Art – Phoenix Slayer
Whoosh—crack!
Slay Points (SP) acquired: 5000
With a sharp crack, the man was sent flying, neck-first.
I clicked my tongue as I looked at his fallen body.
Winz rushed over in a panic.
“Hah, haah♥ Miss, who the hell is this guy…?”
“No idea. We’ll have to drag him back and find out.”
“He looks like an assassin. Very obviously.”
“A skilled assassin probably won’t talk easily. Winz, wanna give it a try?”
When I carefully suggested it, she smiled in a way that sent chills down my spine.
Oh god, terrifying.
“Yes… for you, Miss…♥”
I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea.
Dragging the unconscious man with us, we headed toward the guild.