Chapter 64

The relic was a crucial item in the game <Feudal War>, playing a central role in the game.

Its importance was such that the rise and fall of a faction could be determined by how it was utilized.

Therefore, as the player progressed through the game with one of the 100 lords, there would inevitably be an opportunity to obtain a relic.

At the very least, one.

At most, more than five...

The same applied to the chief of the Konggit tribe, one of the 100 lords.

The Book of Harmony that Auto was seeking was a relic that could be obtained by playing the game as the Konggit chief.

In fact, the northern trade route was the chief's responsibility, not Auto's.

The chief would open the northern trade route, obtain the Book of Harmony, and unify the Habur Plain with its power.

After that, the chief would advance to the continent and become the <Great Conqueror Khan>, the conqueror who had conquered the largest territory in history.

...that was the chief's scenario.

The problem was that Auto had opened the northern trade route much earlier to quickly develop Iota.

As a result, the chief of the Konggit tribe obtained a clue to the Book of Harmony much earlier and came to Lucerne.

'Butterfly effect.'

Auto realized that opening the northern trade route had created an unexpected variable.

'But this is too fast?'

Originally, the Konggit tribe should have failed.

But the fact that they met here meant that the tribe's movements were even faster than Auto had anticipated.

'Is it because this is reality, not a game?'

Auto once again reminded himself that the game and reality were not 100% the same.

'I need to be more careful from now on.'

If a bigger butterfly effect occurred, creating a variable that Auto couldn't even imagine, it would be troublesome.

'Anyway, it's tiring to be a garbage character without a relic.'

Was Auto de Scuderi just a worst garbage character for no reason?

Among the 100 lords, he was the only one who couldn't obtain any relics.

Therefore, he had no choice but to intercept the relics that appeared in other lords' scenarios.

'Ugh. Why did I have to possess such a garbage character? I could have possessed a god character...'

At that moment.

Bang!

A man with a huge build entered the tavern.

'Sure enough. He came in person.'

Auto immediately recognized the man.

He was one of the 100 lords, a warrior with the potential to earn the honorable title of <Great Conqueror Khan>.

'Amukan.'

The chief of the Konggit tribe had come to Lucerne to obtain the Book of Harmony.

* * *

"Oh? That guy is huge."

Kairos showed curiosity as soon as he saw Amukan.

A man among men.

Given that Kairos was a former emperor of the Muto faction, he clearly felt a sense of affinity with Amukan, who looked like a real man.

"Don't look at him."

Auto warned Kairos.

"If you make eye contact, it'll be troublesome."

"What do you mean by troublesome?"

"You'll get into a fight."

"Hehe! Who would dare to pick a fight with me!"

"You'll die if you keep that up."

Auto warned Kairos because it could really lead to death.

The Konggit tribe was extremely belligerent, and once a fight started, blood would be shed.

It wouldn't end with just a brawl; someone's head would be cut off.

"You all have come a long way. You must be tired, so eat, drink, and rest tonight. Understood?"

"Yes, Chief!"

Amukan and the 50 warriors he had brought with him started a wild drinking party.

"Well, that's good."

Auto muttered to himself and was about to leave with his companions.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Aren't you coming?"

Auto asked Kairos.

"Go to sleep. I'll drink a bit more and then come up."

"Hey, don't cause any trouble and come up nicely, okay?"

"What trouble am I going to cause! You don't cause any trouble!"

"Ah, just come up."

"I said I'll drink a bit more and then come up."

"Ugh. Drink moderately and come up. Don't cause any trouble."

Although annoyed, Auto decided to leave Kairos alone.

He knew that Kairos wouldn't listen to nagging...

'Let's see how it goes.'

Auto resolved to firmly correct Kairos' attitude if he became stronger in the future and headed to the room.

"Now what? The appearance of a competitor will affect our plan, won't it?"

"Actually, it's good."

Auto smiled at Camille's question.

"Huh?"

"Actually, it's good."

"..."

"Crisis is an opportunity!"

Auto shouted and flopped onto the bed.

The next morning.

Knock knock.

As soon as Auto woke up, he went to Ericson's room.

"...My stomach hurts."

Ericson, who seemed to have overdrunk the previous night, greeted Auto with a grimace.

"Here, have this."

"Huh?"

"You need to sober up."

"You're a polite person."

Ericson seemed quite pleased when Auto offered him a warm soup.

"Anyway, where did I leave off yesterday? I can't remember much because I was too drunk."

"Well, you see..."

Auto recounted the conversation they had the previous night.

"Ah, I said too much."

"It's fine. It was a good time to hear the story of the one who has the hand of the Creator."

"Is that so? Hmm."

"Anyway..."

Auto, while gauging Ericson's reaction, subtly hinted at something.

"If it's not too much trouble... can I make a proposal to you, Ericson?"

"Proposal?"

"It seems you've found a way to return to your tribe. And you might be able to mine that new material too."

"Is that true?"

"Would I lie about something so important?"

"What's the method! If you can do that, I'll never forget your kindness and will repay it!"

Dwarves, while having a severe personality flaw, were not all bad.

They were a race with a good nature, never forgetting a kindness and repaying it many times over.

So Ericson's promise to never forget and repay the kindness was almost a 100% reliable guarantee.

"Alright. It's a good opportunity."

"What is it? I'll do anything!"

"I'll tell you now, so listen carefully. The current situation is... "

Then, a tempting proposal began to flow from Auto's mouth.

A proposal that Ericson, who had been exiled from the village, could not refuse, a very sweet proposal...

* * *

"What? Is this guy dead?"

Auto, who had just had a secret conversation with Ericson, frowned at the sight of Kairos sprawled out on the bed.

"How much did he drink last night... Ugh!"

Auto almost fainted from the sudden strong smell of alcohol.

The smell was so strong that it almost made him dizzy just from inhaling it.

"What's wrong with him? Did he get drunk and pass out?"

"The innkeeper said he drank all the alcohol in the inn."

"Drank all of it?"

"Yes. After Your Majesty and I went up to the room, he joined Amukan for a drinking contest."

"He's really something."

"According to the innkeeper, Amukan passed out first, and then Kairos followed shortly after."

"So he won?"

"It seems so."

"Really impressive. Tsk tsk."

Auto clicked his tongue.

"Even if you live risking your life, there's a limit. To risk your life over a silly bet over alcohol. You're not even a kid."

If an ordinary person had drunk as much as Kairos, they would have certainly lost their life.

"Still, it's a relief that it's only this much. At least he didn't get into a fight."

"That's true. Leave him be. He'll wake up eventually."

The problem was that this "eventually" turned out to be three whole days, which Auto didn't know.

"Ugh. I almost died."

Kairos finally managed to get up after three days.

"Ugh."

Kairos, clutching his aching stomach, went down to the first-floor tavern and joined the table where Auto, Camille, and Ericson were sitting.

"Are you here? How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I just slept for a long time because I was tired."

Although he was putting on a show, Kairos was actually in a terrible state.

He was hungry.

His stomach was aching.

His face was pale from the hangover.

No matter how much he used mana to expel the alcohol, he was paying the price for drinking beyond his limits.

"Really, you're fine?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Then let's have a drink?"

"What, what?"

"Let's have a drink now. Isn't a hangover drink the best? We can start the day with a drink."

"That's..."

Kairos, sweating profusely from Auto's provocation, hesitated.

Normally, he would have loudly and bravely had a drink, but he was in no condition to do so now.

"Why? Can't you drink?"

"No, I can!"

"Ah~ I don't think so~ Are you scared? You were boasting about your drinking capacity, but now you're being careful because you have a hangover~?"

"Absolutely not! My drinking capacity is the best on the continent..."

At that moment.

"Is your name Kairos?"

Surprisingly, Amukan approached Auto's group and spoke to Kairos.

He had not been seen since the drinking contest and had just reappeared.

It was clear that he had been suffering from a hangover like Kairos.

"You can drink a bit."

"Hehe!"

Kairos burst into a hearty laugh.

"You can drink a bit? Hehe! You shouldn't be saying that! With your drinking capacity, how can you even join a drinking party? You should drink a drop at a time from now on! Otherwise, you might pass out from getting drunk! Hehehe!"

"Y-You...!!!"

Amukan's face turned red with anger at Kairos' taunting, but he couldn't really argue back.

Why?

Because he was the one who passed out first.

"Let's... do it again."

Amukan growled at Kairos.

"I'm busy now... but we'll do it again in a few days, right here."

"Will it make any difference if we do it again? You're just trying to build up your appetite, but forget it. With your drinking capacity, you won't beat me even if you come back from the dead!"

Auto watched the two and thought to himself.

'Tsk tsk. Idiots. In this day and age, are you still fighting over pride with alcohol?'

...

"Are you scared that you might lose next time?"

"Me, scared? Hehehe! I've never felt fear in my life!"

"Then let's do it again."

"Fine. But if I win, you have to call me your big brother. Are you still up for it?"

"Of course."

"Oh, I accept your challenge."

"A few days from now. Right here. I'll be back after I finish my business. Wait for me