Chapter 84

84. The First Boss, Leang (2)

A traitor to the family.

That was the label attached to Leang's back.

Until the head of the Fleur family died a few years later, and the Fleur family disappeared into the annals of history.

It is said that the label of "traitor to the family" followed Leang to the point of being unbearable.

However, after Leang became famous, the label of "traitor to the family" gradually faded away.

Instead, the number of people who praised him and sought his teachings increased.

After all, it was rare to find someone who could use the secret techniques of multiple families.

'But in the end, Leang fell to the devil's temptation.'

Was it because he wanted to keep his nickname "Leang the Imitator," or was it because of his greed to use more secret techniques?

The devil's temptation was to grant him the ability to use all the secret techniques he desired.

Leang signed a contract with the devil and obtained a magic sword that allowed him to imitate the secret techniques of others.

However, there was a hidden clause that gradually eroded him as he borrowed the power of the magic sword. Leang only discovered this much later.

Time passed, and the erosion by the magic sword eventually took over most of his right arm.

Judging it to be too dangerous, he tried to stop the erosion by distancing himself from the magic sword and accepted a position as a teacher at Anwood Academy.

'But that turned out to be a poison.'

Talented children, children who could use the secret techniques of prestigious families, were everywhere.

In the end, Leang once again borrowed the power of the magic sword, and the magic sword went berserk.

And the ones chasing the traces of the magic sword's rampage were none other than the main characters, including Rodelin.

Leang was ultimately executed by their hands and met his end.

'This is the publicly known story of Leang. Although his name appears in the mid-to-late stages of the game...'

It was always as "Leang the Imitator."

Information about "Leang of the Fleur family" was hard to come by.

The only thing that existed was:

- Brother, I'm sorry. I couldn't lead you.

An old letter found in the ruins of the Fleur family's mansion, believed to be a letter the head of the Fleur family intended to send to Leang.

Let's summarize this.

'I need to make Leang repent.'

To make him repent means that Leang is currently thinking and acting incorrectly.

And this is likely to be about "imitation."

Not only did he become famous for imitation, but the ability of the magic sword is also imitation.

After all, he used imitated sword techniques to defeat his own family, hastening the downfall of the Fleur family.

To remind him that this was a wrong action and make him repent.

This is likely what the quest requires for repentance.

'There could be other reasons, but the probability is low.'

This is the only publicly known story about Leang.

And there is one decisive reason why I think this way.

The word "imitation." Doesn't it sound familiar?

That's right. It's one of the skills I possess.

'I've never seen a quest to make Leang repent before.'

It's a quest that even other veterans have never received, a truly first-time encounter.

That's right, this is a hidden piece.

For some reason, a hidden piece related to Leang was activated, and it affected the main quest.

At the end of Chapter 1.

If I were to point out a few things that have changed from my usual gameplay:

'Defeating the devil's fragment, obtaining the imitation of a god, trading with Charon, and the proxy duel with Dike.'

There are only four of them. If I were to pick one related to Leang:

'Leang and I, we are both beings who imitate. That's why the hidden piece was activated.'

The problem is, how to make him repent.

That was the issue.

'Actually, it doesn't matter if I don't make him repent and just kill him...'

Killing Leang is the main quest's clear condition.

'Make him repent and then kill him' is just a condition to receive the hidden reward.

And the hidden reward is only the level-up of [Awakening].

It's not a big deal to give up. However,

'Something feels off.'

It's the fourth main quest and the one that concludes Chapter 1.

Yet, the reward is just a 2-level up and 10 gold.

It's too stingy. So,

'There must be a hidden reward.'

Like the "translucent material" obtained from killing a translucent slime.

It's likely to be a drop item of that kind.

A first-time encounter quest, and the existence of a hidden reward.

I wanted to clear it no matter what.

I am a veteran and a gamer who enjoys this game.

'The good thing is that I know why Leang is obsessed with imitation.'

The reason he is obsessed with imitation. It's because of

'Inferiority complex.'

Comparing oneself to others and feeling inferior.

The worst emotion that gradually eats away at a person and eventually destroys them.

One of the things devils love the most.

If you compare yourself to others, if you put what they have on a scale and compare it,

You are more likely to reach out to the devil's contract.

'Overcoming the inferiority complex.'

This will be the key to making Leang repent.

Zing.

'Huh?'

While I was thinking, [Hyper Senses] suddenly activated.

I scratched my head and walked to a corner of the training ground, swinging my arms.

Swish.

"What are you doing all of a sudden? Are you crazy?"

"Hehe, no way. I think it should be around here..."

Thud.

One of my arms caught something. In the empty air.

I lightly swung my fist. Then,

Crack!

The sound of paper tearing, and the air distorted.

At the same time, something revealed itself.

A box disguised as a training ground wall.

As the perfect disguise distorted, the illusionary effect disappeared.

And the owner of this box...

Snap!

"Hi, hi, hiik!"

A girl with long bangs covering her eyes, Reje.

"What? Why is she here?"

Indeed. It's been a while since we understood each other, Luna.

"Hehe, Miss Reje. What are you doing here?"

"I, I was just here. B, but... H, how did you find me?"

Hehe, that's a

"Secret."

"O, okay. T, then I'll be going..."

Reje fiddled with the box and tried to get back inside.

Trying to get back into a box while talking to someone.

You can't make friends with that kind of communication.

'No choice.'

Aida, who revealed Luna's location, has done a great service.

I need to improve this poor communication skill.

I'm a good person.

Crunch!

I tore the box and stomped on it.

In an instant, the box turned into scrap.

"M, my homeee-!!"

Reje trembled, lying on the scrap.

Was this her home? What was the point of the dormitory?

Luna, who had the same question, asked.

"What? Weren't you living in the dormitory?"

"Y, yes."

"But this is your home? What do you mean?"

"I, I sleep in a box in my room."

"..."

Luna looked at me. Does that make sense?

But I couldn't understand Reje's words either.

Let's break it down slowly.

So, in her room in the dormitory.

There's a box in that room.

And she sleeps in that box?

"Why?"

"It's, it's comfortable."

"Hehe, it doesn't seem comfortable at all."

"T, this world is full of predators. Y, you always have to be careful. S, sleeping is the time when you need to be the most careful."

"Who are the predators?"

"Everyone except me."

...At this point, she's not a herbivore but the weakest being on earth, right?

She was a character I couldn't understand in the game, but seeing her in person is even worse.

Reje collected the broken box and put it in a subspace pocket. Then,

Rustle.

Thud.

She took out another box. A box with the same pattern as the training ground wall.

"...There was another one?"

"It's, it's an emergency one. I, in case of an accident like today. I, I make three boxes for each one."

I see. Not one, but three.

If you put it nicely, it's meticulous.

If you put it negatively, it's self-inflicted trouble.

Wait, then...

"Hehe, Miss Reje. The stone-shaped box I saw last time, do you have three of those too?"

"Y, yes... Including the original, four."

"...How many boxes do you have in total?"

"I, I'm not sure. I, I haven't counted. M, maybe around 100?"

100 boxes that can blend into any space.

That's a scary level.

"...Then I'll be going..."

Just as Reje was about to close the box and get inside, Luna reached out and grabbed her hair, the cowlick on top of her head.

"Where are you going? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Y, yes?"

"The stupid one might be fooled, but not me! You spy!"

Luna pulled Reje out of the box.

Reje, who was knocked over, was pinned down by Luna, who climbed on top of her and grabbed her legs.

Luna's specialty. The cobra twist.

"I let you go last time, but not this time! Who sent you? Who hired you to spy on us?"

"Hi, hi, hiik! I, I didn't!"

"Lie! Then why were you watching us?"

"I, I was, but it's a misunderstanding! I, I was here first. I, I was just here, and you all came."

Hmm, thinking about it, that's true.

The training ground door hasn't been opened since we came in.

Even if Reje is a master of stealth, it's impossible to enter without opening the door.

"...Spy."

"Y, yes?"

"Being a spy, you must have some way!"

"W, what...! T, that's...! T, that's a stretch!"

"Shut up! Eat this! Cobra twist!"

"K, kyaahh!!"

Luna started to twist Reje's waist.

Hmm, I often see this, but it's artistic.

If there was pro wrestling in this world, she would have been a great wrestler.

Beep!

"Harassment is a penalty!"

Outside the training ground window.

Rodelin poked her head out and shouted.

The only issue is that it's a second-story window?

How did she get there?

It's a situation I can't understand as a normal person.

"S, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s, s,