Chapter 4

2. Opening my eyes to the end of the world

I rolled Xiaogu around in various ways and eventually just simplified it.

Some of the settings in my novel had changed, and the moment I faced those changes, the information was updated, a benefit for the possessed.

Anyway, the conclusion.

Russell Ashgreen is a growth-type, king-returning-type character, a late bloomer.

Given this, how could I possibly introduce him into the novel?

To vividly depict a fierce battle scene, the fight would inevitably drag on, but how could there be a character who grows exponentially stronger just by enduring?

As a novice writer, it was a character I couldn't use without imposing a penalty.

Still, being possessed by a character who grows by rolling and tumbling was a hundred times more fortunate than being an extra, a third-rate extra, or a villain.

A character who could see the status of other characters, like an omniscient author's perspective.

The only Easter egg that could provide a twist in a failed world, or a deus ex machina.

But a character who was pushed off the stage due to a thorough laziness setting.

If the spirits of the readers sent me here, then being possessed by Russell Ashgreen was more of a necessity than a coincidence.

But...

What am I supposed to do?

All I can do now is feel the cold from the prison floor, which is enough to give me frozen shoulder at the age of 18.

Just as I was vividly feeling how bad the cold floor was for my health.

After about a day, I was finally taken out of the cell.

"Guard, sir. There's a message to transfer the prisoner to the interrogation room."

The person who had locked me up here handed a document to the guard and soldiers closed in on both sides.

I waved my hand to dismiss the status windows of the extras that popped up one by one, and was dragged along with my arms twisted by the two dark men.

I tried to jump and recall the memories of holding my parents' hands, but the sense of futility made me stop.

"Go in."

My hands were still bound with restraints.

In a small room with only two chairs and a table, I waited again.

It's not like I'm here for reserve training; it's just one wait after another.

Just as I was thinking, "This is so boring, I could die," the door to the interrogation room creaked open, and a man stepped inside.

At that moment, I felt a mix of admiration and a strange emotion.

It was a feeling close to joy.

The man, standing against the corridor light, approached.

His hair, tied like a ponytail, was as black as ink, his golden eyes piercing, and he carried a sword that seemed longer than half his body.

I immediately recognized him.

'Viltred Dieren.'

In the original story, a hero who helps the protagonist, Russell, but becomes disillusioned with the repeating world and betrays the protagonist.

In the game, a character specialized in grinding, known for his devastating area-of-effect skills.

A character I had used for a long time and quite cherished.

Seeing a character I had only seen on the screen appear in real life was quite a novel experience.

'In the fanfiction, this guy was a competent general, nothing more, nothing less. No special episodes of betrayal or heroism.'

I remembered setting him as Russell Ashgreen's guardian in the character profile.

If that's the case, and if it actually happens, it means that not only the revealed content but also the content in the character profile is implemented in this world.

"Nice to meet you."

Though it was a short greeting, I flinched at the intense gaze from his usually expressionless face.

One of the world's clear-cut strongest.

There would likely be a vast gap between him and me, who haven't been trained or properly adapted to this body.

Viltred sat across from me and began speaking in a calm voice.

"Name."

After a moment of thought, I replied in a similarly calm but polite tone.

My revolution, no, my possession life, doesn't need a guillotine.

Of course, there's no way Viltred would behead Russell.

"Russell. Russell Ashgreen."

Viltred silently shuffled through the documents in his hand in response to my answer.

He was probably trying to recall something.

After a moment of silence, he slowly looked up again.

"When did you start your mining activities?"

"Wait, mining?"

I hastily waved my hands, feigning surprise.

In this world, the word "mining" is a death knell.

Anyone labeled as a servant, follower, or minion of the Demon God would never survive.

I would be locked in this vast underground prison of the castle, isolated and socially distanced until I died.

"I am not a miner."

"Can you prove it?"

I closed my mouth and thought for a moment, then had a good idea.

"Damn Demon God. Trash Demon God. I'd like to tear him apart and feed his limbs to the dogs."

"..."

A moment of silence.

I wondered if I had spoken too harshly in front of the great general.

"That's a bit too much of a joke."

"I'm serious. I just don't have a proper way to prove it."

"It's not a light matter to be dismissed with just such wordplay, but I must admit, it feels good."

"Right?"

Viltred chuckled, and Russell smiled back.

"Why and how did you enter the Holy Land?"

"Just, I wanted to see the face of that dog-like Demon God once."

This is the character's official history.

In reality, Russell invaded the Holy Land to spit on the sealed Demon God statue after a certain incident.

"Can you verify your identity? Tell me your hometown."

"Jizera. Forest Village."

"Your parents' occupations?"

"My father was a hunter. My mother was a housewife."

Viltred looked at me with interest.

"Your physical abilities are quite impressive for just a hunter's son. You killed an Ankara with a single strike without a weapon. Were you a monster hunter?"

"I hit him with a rock. Ah, on the head. So I can't say I had no weapon."

I need to fix this broadcast-like tone.

I avoided answers I couldn't give and tried to respond tactfully.

He smiled brightly, apparently satisfied with my answer.

"Interesting."

"Really?"

"Clearly, I've never met you before. Your name is unfamiliar. Yet, why do you seem glad to see me?"

"..."

I realized I had let my joy show on my face, even though I thought I had kept it well hidden.

"I wanted to ask how you know me, but... I have something to confirm first."

Viltred listened to a report from a returning soldier and then looked at me with a piercing gaze.

"Russell Ashgreen. Born in Jizera, Southern Forest Village. Father, Carlson Ashgreen, died in the subsequent battles after the Demon War. Mother, Senia Ashgreen, suffered from a curse inflicted by a miner six months ago and died in the village. After her funeral, you wandered and disappeared before enlisting in the training camp."

"..."

"Was it a military training evasion? That's a very serious offense."

"...It was a simple mistake. I didn't receive the enlistment notice."

Man, the family history I set up is terrifyingly sad even when I hear it again.

I nodded, impressed by Viltred's incredible information-gathering skills.

"Ashgreen, that name sounds familiar. You're Carlson's son."

"Do you know my father?"

"I know him well. He was a brave warrior."

I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Russell's identity meant that Viltred would be his guardian, as per the official history.

At that moment.

In an instant, a powerful aura enveloped me, and I instinctively leaped backward.

A gust of wind blew through the room, and my shirt front fluttered.

Viltred, who had somehow drawn his sword, sheathed it again and smiled with interest.

"Wow, you almost died."

I almost wet my pants.

Avoiding that attack was 100% thanks to this body.

My body reacted instinctively.

Hail the hunter's lineage.

And my level 3 bladder.

"To avoid an attack with just your senses, without any battle suit. You are indeed Carlson's son."

"Did you attack to verify my identity?"

Viltred nodded.

"What if you had killed your friend's son?"

"He would have mourned his failed parenting."

This guy is a complete psychopath...

I need to get out of here quickly.

I shot him a look, silently demanding to be sent away now that my identity was verified.

But he remained calm, speaking in a composed tone.

"For the past 20 years, since the war, we've been engaged in a tedious and dirty war with the Demon God's minions. Some of them pretended to marry and even had children, placing them in the capital, while others joined the military and rose to command before betraying us."

I closed my mouth at Viltred's words.

"Friend? Parents? Children? Considering the effort they put into avoiding suspicion and betraying humanity, blood ties are not enough to prove you're not a miner."

"I am not a miner, as I've said."

"Being Carlson's son alone is not enough to completely clear you of suspicion."

I was frustrated but couldn't voice it.

Did I do something wrong? Was there a butterfly effect?

"But..."

Viltred looked at me with a sentimental expression.

A mix of complex and varied emotions flickered and then subsided.

"I will show mercy to the son of a former comrade once. This is a tribute to your father, a hero who fought bravely for the goddess, saved many lives, but ultimately chose sacrifice over glory. If you are a miner, do not be discovered."

"That means..."

"Your release. Russell Ashgreen. However, you will be under surveillance for a while, so be careful."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though he said it that way, the famous thorough general releasing a suspected miner was essentially looking out for me.

Now that he is aware of his comrade's son, he will continue to watch over Russell and eventually become his guardian, ensuring his admission to the Hero Academy.

"Thank you, Uncle."

A friend of my father is an uncle.

If an uncle gives you such a compliment, it's a Korean tradition and history to get some pocket money.

"By the way, since it's my first time meeting my friend's son, do you think you could give me some pocket money?"

Viltred's face twisted at my last words.

Come on, work.

Fulfill your role, guardian.

《General Viltred》

Oh.