◈ Episode 9. Unfortunately (1)
I could guess the reason.
‘As expected... Are [Skills] and 〘Magic〙 different?’
When I manifested Ignition, I felt something out of place.
Even if the acquisition process differed, Ignition was ultimately a Skill.
If I had become able to manifest it, then Ignition should have appeared in my Skill list.
Yet my Skill list remained sparse.
《Skill》
Archenemy
Shooting Mastery
Simultaneous Shooting Mastery
Exorcism Ritual
It had been the same when I manifested other magic.
That experience and my current one.
From that, I reached one hypothesis.
[Skills] and 〘Magic〙 are completely different concepts.
Once I viewed the two on different planes, it made sense.
‘Just how much time and effort did it take to manifest a single Ignition spell?’
I didn't know the exact amount, but...
I could tell one thing for certain: it didn't match the setting.
Why, he could manifest magic immediately just by watching.
That was the setting of Grandfell, fitting for a terminal case of chūnibyō.
I opened my mouth.
"Indeed, it was more than enough to warrant that."
This time, it wasn't a defense mechanism.
Completely different [Skills] and 〘Magic〙.
Yet I had tried to understand Skills as Magic, so it was only natural that I suffered so much for it.
I was trying to do the impossible—no wonder my head felt like it would split!
‘...But I succeeded in converting Skills into Magic to manifest them, didn't I?’
In that sense, the setting of being the greatest genius in the history of the Claudi family seemed to remain intact.
I looked at the Portal.
Indeed, it was different from when I had watched Skills on NetTube.
I didn't even need pen and paper.
The process from 〘Detection〙 to 〘Interference〙 was drawn in my mind.
A magic of a realm incomparable to Ignition—〘Portal〙.
I felt as though I could truly manifest that high-rank magic.
Of course, manifesting it required enormous mana.
I probably couldn't even attempt it right now.
But simply knowing that fact was enough.
I shifted my gaze and looked around the scenery of the Magic Tower.
I would be coming here often in the future.
I wanted to grab a passing Mage NPC and ask a favor.
To show me magic.
Nothing too difficult, just low-level magic step by step.
Of course, the haughty residents of the Magic Tower would never heed my request.
Furthermore, I knew now wasn't the time for that.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress)
▲
●Notify that the hunt has begun. (In Progress)
"I have no need for instruction."
...Moreover, this noble pride would never tolerate the act of asking for a favor.
Perhaps if it were a command.
Truly, a tiresome personality.
I soon walked through the Portal.
Click-clack—in steps of unparalleled arrogance....
Whooosh—...
Damn it, it's cold as expected.
If I had the presence of mind to pack green tea bags, I should've packed hand warmers too!
It was so cold I wanted to fold my arms and stomp my feet.
But this body doesn't even ask for favors.
I could never do such an undignified act.
I walked steadily on legs that felt ready to give out at any moment.
The scenery shifted, revealing a dense forest.
Many people had already gathered there.
"Yes! I am currently in front of the new rift in Russia."
Press reporters.
"Alright, hyung-nims, I'll enter the rift you want. Which one?"
NetTuber Players.
"How's the situation? You okay? Yeah, the video is streaming well."
Guilds that had set up camps outside as well.
Indeed, it was a sight that showed at a glance the tremendous attention pouring into this Count Askyura rift.
Well, I suppose most of them are competitors.
Anyway, my quest objective was to hunt the vampire.
Competition with high-flying guilds and players.
Honestly, defeating Count Askyura before them would be impossible.
Not only in numbers, but our levels were incomparable.
Yet I was filled with confidence.
Please let this confidence be grounded in reason.......
Wishing so, I stepped toward the nearest rift.
"Hey, hold on."
"?"
"Excuse me! Let's respect the pecking order."
A certain man stopped me.
A man with a notably round face.
He held a tripod with a camera attached.
A NetTuber.
The man looked me up and down.
"There's no way I wouldn't remember a face like yours... You're a newbie, right? Fresh concept. What, a salaryman-inside-a-rift concept? Anyway. I'm going to review this rift, so go check another one. Shoo, shoo."
A newbie NetTuber with a salaryman concept.
Hard to argue with that?
Certainly, my attire must look like that.
For one, I don't look like a player here to raid a rift.
But look properly.
Am I holding a camera like you?
I wanted to answer like that, but I couldn't.
"Move."
"W-what?!"
"I have no patience left at the moment."
A voice colder than Russia's biting wind.
It was my emotion of 'I am too cold to endure,'
expressed as kindly as possible within the bounds of expression.
"H-hyung-nims, you saw that, right? Newbies these days have such awful attitudes, I tell you?! Huh? You say I must be in the wrong just by looking at my face? No, unnie! If even you say that......"
Leaving the flustered man behind, I stood before the rift.
[Outer Estate]
[Recommended Level: Lv. 240–270]
[Collapse Progress: 9.7%]
My current level is 67.
Nearly 200 levels below the recommended level.
Before such a rift, I had only one thought.
If I go inside the rift, I might be able to escape this cold.......
*Rank 32 Guild, Berserker.
The guild master, Leonie Bellucci, furrowed her pale brows.
"Fuck, what the hell is this?"
Leonie was currently Level 348.
She was a ranker within the top 100 players.
Fitting for her position, Leonie had vast experience.
But this rift was different from anything before.
Truly, it was shit.
Leonie swung her twin swords.
Swish—she had clearly cut its legs.
Yet that red-eyed wolf didn't flinch one bit.
"You mutt!"
Ssk-ssk—an unending flurry of sword strikes from her twin swords!
Soon the wolf collapsed.
Naturally.
[Bloodstained Wolf: Lv. 230]
A difference of nearly 100 levels.
A mere Level 230 monster couldn't withstand her attack power.
Leonie checked the system message.
She had definitely defeated it, and definitely received EXP.
But what was this unpleasant feeling?
"...Guys. Is it just me?"
Leonie put on a serious expression.
But that serious face didn't suit the current backdrop.
A cute face that even pulled off the short, crimson hair cut to her own style.
A delicate frame.
Who could tell just from this appearance?
That this was the master of Berserker, a berserker guild.
"What now."
"Unnie's acting sharp again?"
"Really not scary at all."
So the guild members showed pleased smiles.
Partly because her face was cute.
But mostly because Leonie's intuition wasn't very good despite her usual sharp act.
Of course, this heartwarming atmosphere never lasted long.
"No, fuck. I'm telling you it feels super off?!"
The moment she opened her mouth, could there be anyone else in the world who shattered their image this much?
It wasn't a joke; it was a shocking reversal even seeing it every day.
The guild members sighed.
"...Right. That's our unnie."
"But what feels off? Why, because the raid is too easy?"
"Her shit intuition is acting up."
Leonie raised her fist with a whoosh.
"No, of course it's easy! Newbie! What level are we."
"Unnie. Even if you can't watch your mouth, let's not get physical."
"Shut up with the nagging. No, have you guys seen mobs like these?!"
Thud—Leonie kicked the wolf sprawled on the ground.
"They don't show an ounce of pain until they die."
"Well, isn't it just because they're demons?"
"Hey, punk. Is this our first time catching demons? Haven't you heard imps scream?"
...Wait, now that she mentioned it, that was true.
The top 30 elites of Berserker guild, including Leonie.
They had entered the [Outer Estate] rift and hunted for about three hours.
In that process, they must have killed dozens of [Bloodstained Beasts] and [Bloodstained Bandits].......
"...Have you guys heard them scream or whine?"
Looking back, they really hadn't.
When the guild members didn't answer, Leonie shrugged.
"Something feels off no matter what. These bastards have something going on."
"So what is that something?"
"No, fuck. How should I know?"
"Unnie, now that you mention it, it is definitely strange... But it's probably nothing serious, right? Above all, what's certain is we definitely got EXP from killing them."
"That's true. But I have a feeling, okay?!"
Guild ranking always around 30th.
There's a reason we teeter above and below that rank!
Our guild's dignity has hit rock bottom because of our master.
"What do you guys really take me for......"
It was the moment Leonie was about to throw a futile tantrum.
From the forest far away.
-Yip, yipe!
Such sounds were heard.
"...!"
Faint, but it sounded like a beast whining.
In an instant, gazes poured onto Leonie.
"...Hey, what's with that 'of course' look in your eyes?!"
There were several players who had entered the rift.
It could be sounds from them.......
-Ah, awooooo!
But the mournful howling sealed it.
Now words, not just looks, spilled out.
"Of course."
"This is our unnie after all."
"Damn. What's wrong and where?"
Why were they whining and howling?
Half frustrated, half curious.
Leonie led her guild members toward the sound.
"It's better to join up anyway, right? We're all raiding the same rift, after all."
In truth, the [Outer Estate] was nothing more than a warm-up rift.
Even with demon-type monsters appearing, the guilds participating in this raid could clear it without difficulty.
The real competition would begin after clearing all the outer rifts.
Starting from the [Count's Estate] rift.
"...Just what kind of bastards are they?"
What made those silent bastards howl in fear?
Leonie listed a few expected candidates.
'First, exclude Shining and Gaon. We avoided them.'
Rank 1 and Rank 5.
What would we be but shrimp burst by a flick of a whale's tail against those two guilds?
With that thought, Berserker guild had entered a rift far from them.
Then the remaining candidates weren't many.
"At a glance, Second Sun, or Bohemian. One of those two."
But as I said.
Leonie Bellucci's intuition wasn't very good.
"...?"
Where they arrived chasing the cries, there was no guild.
There was just one man.
But that man's appearance suited the backdrop about as much as Leonie's did.
Not just in a suit, but wearing dress shoes to boot.
But above all, the real spectacle was.
That this man held a teacup in his hand.
Trailing—rising steam.
A teacup that looked warm just by looking at it.
But strangely.
The man's appearance didn't look unnatural at all.
Though it didn't suit the backdrop.
A relaxed atmosphere flowed from the man.
His figure looked exactly like someone enjoying tea time.
Gulp—"...What kind of crazy bastard is that?"
Leonie swallowed dryly at that alien sight.
The man spoke to Leonie.
"Unfortunately."
In an utterly resolute voice.
"There is no tea to offer you."
...
Warm.
Now the chill is finally fading.
Now that I know the value of tea time.
I couldn't help but cherish the green tea bag in my inner pocket.
Therefore.
Gulp—even if you pretend to be thirsty, I have nothing to give you.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress)
▲
●Notify that the hunt has begun. (Success)
●Let them feel the fear of being hunted. (In Progress)