Chapter 18

"――Why am I so strong even though I'm only level one, you ask?"

On the way to our destination, I asked Resilia.

My emotional issues were resolved, but her abnormally high abilities were still a concern. In *BleBle*, you can increase your stats through "training" in addition to leveling up, but I've never heard of someone maintaining level one and still achieving such stats.

Relying on an unknown power is scary, and understanding the secret behind her strength might be useful for the future. So, I decided to ask her about the secret of her power again.

"Perhaps, I need to tell you about the Toren family."

Resilia didn't seem upset by my sudden question. She chose her words carefully and began to speak. It turned out to be a story about the roots of "Rex Toren" and "Resilia Toren."

"The Toren family has served the Earth royal family for generations, acting as bodyguards and sword instructors. This tradition continued even to my generation."

"About the Earth royal family..."

"The Earth royal family, along with the 'Savior Goddess,' sealed away the evil god. Although they have lost their actual power, they lived peacefully in the castle of the city of Earth."

"Oh, right..."

I remembered that setting. In the game, the Earth royal family was mentioned in the events related to the 'Dark God' and the 'Eternal Darkness Cult,' which become active in the later stages.

The world of *BleBle* is a bit vague in terms of countries and governments, probably because the world is based on a setting where gods stand above humans. The world is more like a confederation of kingdoms, with each city having a degree of autonomy.

"Even without actual power, the descendants of the Earth royal family were considered the closest to the 'Savior Goddess' and were often targeted by demons and those who sided with evil. The Toren family honed their sword skills to protect them, dedicating their swords and loyalty to them, and were known as the 'Toren Guard Knights.' However, the training was harsh, and many dropped out or fell behind."

"Did 'Rex' leave the family because of that...?"

"…I don't know what Rex was thinking. But that's how people saw it."

She said this matter-of-factly, but I sensed a hint of anger in her words.

"So, does that mean, Resilia was supposed to...?"

I tried to change the subject, but I realized I had chosen the wrong topic. If she had been training to become a guard knight, then the person she was supposed to protect was already...

"...Yes. I was supposed to be the bodyguard for the second prince."

I wasn't sure if I managed to hide my expression when I heard that.

"...I see."

I couldn't lightly say, "I hope he's alive," because I knew the second prince of the Earth royal family was already dead... or rather, alive.

(Damn! So that's how it all connects!)

I fervently prayed that Resilia would never meet "him" again. Because...

The only survivor of the city of Earth and the Earth royal family, the 'Servant of Darkness' who rose from the inferno and vowed revenge on the goddess, the strongest and most ruthless mage who wields dark magic, and the worst enemy who repeatedly stands in the protagonist's way, leading the world to destruction, the 'Dark Prince,' claimed to be the second prince of the Earth royal family...

* * *

"Do the Toren family have their own unique style?"

Noticing the decrease in our conversation, Resilia said brightly.

"Yes. We use speed and wind magic to enhance our combat. I just received the license to teach the style recently, so the lineage is technically not broken."

"License to teach...?"

"I still need to improve, but now I can proudly call myself a 'Toren Sword' and use the title 'Imperial Sword.'"

"...What? What did you just say?"

I reflexively asked, having heard a word that caught my attention.

"The Toren Sword, right?"

"No, the other one."

"Oh, 'Imperial Sword'?"

The moment I heard that, a current ran through my mind.

Right! I had a sense of déjà vu, and it was Resilia's stats! They matched the requirements for the advanced class 'Imperial Sword.'

(No way... Could it be...?)

A wild hypothesis formed in my mind.

Resilia was originally a character who was supposed to die in an event, with no combat scenes. So, her stats didn't need to be set, and she was probably initially designed as a level one character with no development.

But, it was likely decided that Resilia would inherit the Toren family's techniques. So, someone might have set her class to 'Imperial Sword' just for the sake of it. What would happen then?

The default Resilia wouldn't meet the requirements to become an 'Imperial Sword,' but if the program automatically adjusted her stats to the minimum required for the class...

—A level one, overpowered character would be created.

It was just a theory, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like the right answer.

Since Resilia was supposed to die without any combat, her stats wouldn't affect the game, so they might not have been checked or were overlooked.

(Man! That's just like you guys!)

I cursed the developers of *BleBle* for their carelessness.

(But, it's convenient.)

While there were reasons to be happy about Resilia's strength, there were no reasons to complain. I was a bit envious of her, but...

(We can use this, can't we?)

Resilia, an irregular character excluded from the game, could provide benefits that wouldn't be possible in a normal game.

If we could help people who couldn't be helped in the original game and add characters who couldn't join the party...

—We might be able to create the strongest army.

I shivered with excitement at the thought.

(This is getting interesting.)

As I was lost in my thoughts,

"…We seem to have arrived."

Resilia's quiet voice brought me back to reality. This was our destination.

The Goblins were scattered across the field, known as the 'Field of the Subhumans.'

Today, we were here to level up Resilia.

* * *

"…Shall we start right away?"

Resilia sounded natural, slightly tense but not overly so, and not intimidated by her first battle.

Of course, the opponent was a Goblin. With Resilia's stats, it would be difficult for her to struggle.

But, it's better to increase the success rate.

"If you're nervous, I can lend you a weapon. I have a good one for Goblin hunting."

"No, I'd like to use a weapon I'm familiar with for my first battle."

I reluctantly retracted my hand, which was about to draw an orichalcum knife.

"Let's go."

The moment she spoke, it was over in an instant.

"…Wind."

Resilia's emerald hair fluttered in the wind, and she was already near a Goblin, her back to it.

"Ha!"

In the next moment, the Goblin's head was split in two by Resilia's sword.

No creature, no matter how tough, could survive with its head split in half. The poor creature soon turned into particles of light and disappeared into the sky.

"Excellent."

I approached and spoke, but Resilia was still staring at her sword, lost in thought.

"Are you okay? Killing a humanoid opponent is different..."

"No, it's not that. I just feel a sense of accomplishment."

Unaware of my confusion, Resilia continued in a dazed tone.

"The Toren family's sword grows stronger with its master. We were forbidden to hunt monsters. So, hah. It feels like a long-held wish has been fulfilled."

She smiled, looking more her age than ever. I couldn't help but smile seeing her happy, even though I hadn't done anything.

She suddenly seemed to realize something and shrank back.

"…I'm sorry. We haven't finished the main task yet. I got carried away."

"No, it's fine. I'm happy to see you happy."

I felt foolish for having been jealous of her yesterday. That's why I was nervous about the next experiment.

"…This is probably the real test. Are you ready?"

"…Yes."

Resilia's relaxed demeanor tightened at my words.

Our goal was to level up Resilia. More specifically, to observe her stat growth.

It's obvious that stats increase with level up. By comparing her stats before and after, we can determine her growth and, by extension, her innate potential.

For example, if I, "Rex," had a growth value of 4 in all stats, my stats would increase by 4 each time I leveled up.

Strength: 4

Health: 4

Magic: 4

Spirit: 4

Agility: 4

Focus: 4

The difference in stats would look like this.

Now, what would Resilia's stat growth be?

The unexpectedly high initial stats we discussed on the way here made this investigation even more important.

High initial stats don't necessarily mean high growth. In fact, because of the exceptional handling, Resilia's growth rate could be zero.

If Resilia's current class is 'Imperial Sword,' she should have an average growth of 2 due to class bonuses. However, if her innate potential was set to zero due to a bug or if she was set to a villager's standard instead of an adventurer's, her growth could be 3 or less.

As I watched her sword fly like the wind, cutting down two Goblins, the moment came!

"Th-this is..."

Her body was enveloped in light.

—She's growing!!

When the light faded, she was still the same, but a little stronger.

"Let's check."

"…Please."

My throat was dry with tension. I hadn't felt this emotionally invested in something outside of myself in a long time.

(Please! I really, really hope so!)

I had let go of my jealousy. So, I prayed sincerely!

Not to create the strongest army, but for her!

If possible, an average of 4!

No, even 3 would be fine!

With such high initial stats, she could fight well. So, at least, not 2 or less...

With that prayer, I used 'Insight' on her again.

---

Resilia

LV 2

HP 246 MP 75

Strength 126 Health 106

Magic 58 Spirit 93

Agility 133 Focus 69

---

The displayed stats. And the growth values, calculated by subtracting the previous stats, were...

---

Strength 8

Health 6

Magic 3

Spirit 5

Agility 9

Focus 5

---

"How...?"

I couldn't help but stare in shock. Her calm but tense voice broke the silence.

Reacting to her voice, I slowly raised my head. And then,

"O-"

"O-?"

I opened my mouth, overwhelmed by the impulse,

"――Oroorooroorooroorooroorooro!"

Unable to bear the stark disparity, I vomited a white waterfall from my mouth. The waterfall flowed onto the grass, creating a small pool of porridge.

The stats you saw were so high that you couldn't help but question your sanity. Witnessing such an incomprehensible disparity in abilities and, in a sense, a grotesque image, you need a SAN check.

While writing this, I thought, "Is this guy really the protagonist?" But then I realized he wasn't, so it's safe!