Chapter 99

99. The First Boss, Leang (17)

“Gasp...”

Leang’s face was deathly pale, as if all the blood had drained from his body.

It was only natural. His right arm, which held the magic sword, had been severed, and blood was gushing out from the wound.

Although he had used a potion for emergency treatment, there was no way to restore the blood that had already been lost.

“Pant... Pant... Could you do me a favor and bring me a sword from over there?”

In the corner of the training ground, there was a display case.

I took a sword from there and placed it in Leang’s hand.

“Watch carefully, my last student, Zero.”

“Teacher Leang... If you push yourself like this...”

“Enough, I’m already done for. The demon not only took my right arm but also tampered with other parts of my body. I’m going to be executed anyway. So...”

Whoosh.

“Let me choose my final path.”

Leang’s sword dance began.

Dance, blade, wings, darkness, sky.

These were the five secret techniques of the Fleur family.

“Pant... Pant... I’m disappointed that my time is so limited.”

“...Teacher.”

“Don’t make that face, Zero. Come at me now. Starting now.”

Swoosh.

“I will begin my final lesson.”

Leang raised his sword and took a stance.

Despite the loss of his right arm and his limited experience with using his left hand, he exuded a formidable presence.

I also took a similar stance.

For a man who had fought against inferiority all his life and finally triumphed,

I offered a small comfort.

“Haha, the lessons were fun. Truly.”

Your passion, effort, and affection.

I could feel everything in the lessons.

“Zero, it was an honor to have a student like you.”

Thud!

Clang!

We began to charge at each other.

Since this was the end, I decided to give him a proper send-off.

Still, it would be a great comfort.

The fifth secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm of the Sky.

The fifth secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm of the Sky.

A refined sword technique that involves a single, precise swing as you pass by your opponent.

It was silent.

We whispered to each other, our backs touching.

“Did you see it?”

“Yes, Zero. The Sky... It was like this.”

Thud!

A line of blood appeared on Leang’s chest, and he fell forward.

At the same time.

Squish.

A thin line of blood appeared on my right forearm.

Blood dripped down, but it wasn’t much.

However, one thing was clear.

It had touched. My body.

With his ravaged body, he had used the secret technique with all his heart, for me.

“Haha, Leang de Fleur. Your swordsmanship... It definitely touched this body.”

On par with other families.

Beautiful beyond measure.

“A truly excellent strike.”

* * *

So, it touched.

Even in his dying body, Leang knew.

His swordsmanship, the efforts he had accumulated.

Were not in vain.

Yes, Zero. A hero is someone like you.

Facing overwhelming power without breaking, with a strong heart and will.

If I had another life, I would live it just like that.

The will of the Fleur family does not disappear.

It will continue to be passed down.

Through Zero, that child.

“Move forward, Zero.”

With a will of steel.

The flapping of the Fleur family’s wings.

Begins now.

* * *

- Recognized as the official successor of the Fleur family.

The solid basics of the Fleur family’s swordsmanship.

When using sword-type weapons, attack power increases by 20%.

The information window that appeared before my eyes was overwhelming.

Let’s sort it out step by step.

The main quest completion rewards: 2 level-ups and 10 gold.

A decent reward, nothing to explain further.

Next, the additional reward: the [Awakening] skill’s level-up.

It went from F to E.

‘Could there be a new effect? If so, that would be amazing.’

I opened the information window to check immediately.

-Slightly open the eyes. A slightly more ominous red light appears in the pupils.

“...”

I remember the exact wording when the skill was at F level.

Anyone would remember.

Because the state of the skill I received right after being possessed was desperate.

At F level, it was ‘ominous red light,’ and at E level, it was.

‘Slightly more ominous red light.’

Yes. Only the word ‘slightly more’ was added, with no additional effect.

After all that hard work to improve it, this is the reward?

I would have overturned the system immediately.

If it weren’t for the two hidden rewards below.

To be honest, this is... an incredibly big reward.

Considering that I always got junk skills from potential gambling and [Awakening] was my main skill, this is an unbelievably good reward.

Why?

Unlike [God’s Imitation], which allows you to mimic one technique from each family, this skill allows you to use all the secret techniques of the Fleur family.

For Luna, it was [Rester Family Style], and for Rodelin, it was [Lucid Family Style].

Now, I have [Fleur Family Style].

‘Dance, blade, wings, darkness, sky.’

I’m a veteran of this game, but I have no information about the Fleur family’s swordsmanship.

It doesn’t exist. Leang showed it in Chapter 1 and then died.

I can’t know what kind of swordsmanship it is until I use it, but being able to freely use a family’s secret techniques.

Is a tremendous gift to me. Most importantly.

‘I can reach S-rank too!’

For gamers, [God’s Imitation] is an essential skill.

A skill so efficient that it would be among the top three if you asked anyone to name a game-breaking skill.

But it has a clear limitation at A-rank.

It allows you to use other families’ secret techniques but can’t reach S-rank.

This was a huge complaint. Now, I can resolve it.

I have the opportunity to become a ‘real’ one.

As a veteran and a gamer.

I can say I received a truly touching gift.

Finally.

The recognition as the ‘official successor of the Fleur family’ is touching, but a 20% increase in attack power when using sword-type weapons.

‘Isn’t this game-breaking?’

How many gifts is he giving me?

“Teacher Leang... I am deeply grateful for your boundless kindness.”

He was a true mentor, incomparable to Charon.

Suddenly, Leang’s body turned into light and disappeared.

‘Is it because he’s a hidden boss?’

By the way, his rank was marked as ‘???’ instead of S.

What? Using the [Feast] skill on a mentor’s body? Isn’t that crazy?

Well.

‘That’s one thing, and this is another.’

Teacher Leang would want to be used more, wouldn’t he?

Whoosh.

A portal appeared before my eyes.

A portal identical to the one I entered.

“Hmm...”

Before entering, I had one thing to do.

‘Self-diagnosis of the feeling of killing.’

This was a crucial issue. I would have to kill again in the future.

In the worst case, I might have to change my playstyle.

After a deep breath, I slowly began the self-diagnosis.

Q. What emotion did you feel after your first kill?

‘...I’m not sure.’

It was chaotic because I was so distracted.

But if I had to pick the strongest emotion, it was probably ‘sadness.’

Sadness for Leang, a character who dreamed of being a hero but was destroyed by his inferiority complex.

That was the strongest emotion.

Let’s move on to the next question.

Q. Are you deluding yourself with the power of [Mental Defense]?

Hmm, this is a difficult question to answer immediately. Let me think for a moment.

I received it at S-rank. At first, I thought it was a special bonus to help me adapt to the game.

‘A device to prevent the feeling of guilt from killing. That could be it.’

If not that.

“Haha, a device to prevent the enjoyment of killing. That could be it too.”

There might be players who think about killing all the characters in the game.

Either way, it’s not a normal mindset.

“Hmm...”

After self-diagnosis, I couldn’t detect any significant issues.

Feeling sadness at Leang’s death.

This was a significant revelation.

‘This skill might need more research.’

I’ve spent too much time.

I slowly moved towards the portal.

Some might think.

Making a fuss over just killing a game character.

But I don’t think they are just characters.

No, I don’t want to think that.

Rodelin, Luna, Raymond, Alex, Yuridia, Teron, and all the others.

They were definitely living beings.

“Haha, I got too caught up in my emotions. I need to hurry.”

I didn’t want Luna to tear my hair out for being so late.

Thud.

Something caught my foot. The magic sword.

The culprit that destroyed Leang.

Looking inside, I saw something small moving around.

It looked like a dog. Well, it’s probably a demon in a dog’s disguise.

Hmm~ Offering the magic sword for free? This is really tempting...

“I’m not interested at all.”

It would only consume my body.

It might be a strong weapon for the early stages, but I’m not willing to give up my future.

Swish.

I drew the sword and, recalling the movements Leang showed me, swung it.

The first secret technique of the Fleur family.

Steel Storm of the Dance.

Clang!

The magic sword shattered and scattered.

Scream!

Was it an illusion? I thought I heard the demon’s scream.

By the way, the [Fleur Family Style] I acquired is at C-rank.

Neither high nor low. I thought about why it was given this rank.

And I realized.

Teacher Leang. The rank he had accumulated through a lifetime of training.

There’s a high probability that it was transferred to me.

His will, the Fleur family’s steel-like will, continues through me.

“Haha, Teacher Leang. Your noble will for the family.”

This Zero will definitely inherit it.

“Rest in peace.”

With these final words, I threw myself into the portal.