NOVEL WEB Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Port City of Ehrenfer
—–CROW—–
The next morning.
Three days after defeating the Beast Lord Valakia, Luther finally met with Count Glasstone.
“[Shouldn’t you have met him the day you defeated the Beast Lord?]”
‘You’re right.’
Luther hadn’t been able to meet Count Glasstone because he had fainted on the day of the battle, spent the next day dancing with Integra, and then collapsed yesterday after absorbing the fragment.
‘But well… it’s not like it was absolutely necessary to meet him.’
“[Wow, if it were a woman, you would have met her.]”
‘What do you take me for?’
“[You know what I mean.]”
‘No, what do you mean?’
“Um, Luther.”
“Ah.”
Brought back to reality by Karen lightly tugging on his sleeve, Luther looked forward again.
Count Glasstone was sitting with a gentle expression.
“[Wow, look. He completely ignored him even though he was sitting right in front of him.]”
“[Poor Count Glasstone….]”
‘You, just wait. Just wait.’
“[Kyaa! What are you going to do when you’re alone together…?!]”
‘Just forget it.’
Better dead than annoyed.
Trying his best to ignore Integra, who had started giggling, Luther focused on Count Glasstone.
But this wasn’t easy either.
“You have accomplished a great deed. On behalf of the entire city of Venus, I express my gratitude.”
“Ah, yes.”
Moist eyes resembling Lilia’s.
It wasn’t that it didn’t suit the handsome Count Glasstone, but as a fellow man, it felt quite burdensome.
‘Lilia’s okay, though.’
No, perhaps he should say he liked it.
Lilia, sitting next to Count Glasstone, was smiling brightly at him. When their eyes met, her shy smile was very cute.
A soft and comforting feeling, perhaps?
“[Focus on Count Glasstone.]”
“[He’s talking about important things, important things!]”
Integra’s chiding wasn’t without reason.
Count Glasstone had brought up the topic of compensation for this incident.
“This is a gift for the benefactor of our family. Please feel free to visit the Glasstone family whenever you need assistance.”
Count Glasstone offered a small, gold pendant.
It seemed like it would be worth a considerable amount, but it was a difficult item to sell, so it could be considered to have no immediate monetary value.
“[Like Princess Pelialu last time, it seems like there’s a lot of ‘for future use’ on this planet.]”
‘That’s true, but… it’s probably because they’re short on cash right now.’
Count Glasstone had already spent a fortune hiring hundreds of adventurers.
Considering the cost of creating Lete’s Sacred Score and other miscellaneous expenses, even the wealthy Glasstone family would be strapped for cash at the moment.
“Please, please come back and visit us later.”
Perhaps a bit embarrassed about offering a pendant of gratitude instead of cash, Count Glasstone repeatedly emphasized the invitation to visit again.
“But Luther, are you sure… you don’t want it announced under your name?”
The one who defeated the Beast Lord Valakia.
After the Mana Vortex was activated, it was practically Luther alone who defeated it, so Count Glasstone naturally intended to spread the news of the Beast Lord’s defeat under Luther’s name.
However, Luther refused.
“Yes, I would appreciate it if you announced it under the name of an anonymous warrior… or a suitable pseudonym. I would also like you to keep my identity as a… Cheon… a secret.”
The reason was simple.
He didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention from Hecatonchires.
‘It’s only just the end of the Western arc.’
He didn’t want to be noticed by Hecatonchires so soon.
What if they sent a top-class Dragonkin to eliminate him?
‘Of course, that’s highly unlikely.’
They would probably send a mid-level, at most a high-level Dragonkin, but even a mid-level Dragonkin would be tough for Luther at the moment.
He defeated the Beast Lord thanks to the debuffs from the Spirit’s Jewel and the successful activation of the Mana Vortex, not because he had become incredibly strong.
So for now, he would lie low.
He would try not to attract unnecessary attention.
‘Besides, there were few witnesses to the fight.’
It was practically true that no one had followed him to the Asain Canyon and witnessed the battle.
So unless Count Glasstone specifically spread the truth, people would think that Arma Valentine, one of the world’s top ten superhumans, had defeated the Beast Lord, rather than the suddenly appearing Luther.
Of course, Luther wasn’t without ambition.
Since he had saved the West, he wanted the fame and praise.
But risking his life for mere fame was foolish.
Luther wasn’t that foolish.
“[But Master, you did include the anonymous warrior part just in case, right?]”
Luther nodded slightly at Integra’s question.
If he had no name at all, there would be no room for him to step in later, but if his name was listed, he could later reveal that it was actually him.
“[Sometimes fame is necessary. I think it’s a good decision.]”
As Integra praised Luther with a gentle smile, Count Glasstone, after a moment of contemplation, spoke with a serious expression.
“I understand. If that is your wish, Luther, I will do so.”
“Thank you.”
As the conversation between Count Glasstone and Luther concluded, Lilia, who had been quiet until now, cautiously spoke.
“Um, Luther, what are your plans? Will you be staying in Venus for a while?”
Lilia already knew that Luther was searching for fragments, but she didn’t seem to think he would leave immediately.
“[But unfortunately, we’ll be leaving right away.]”
“[So very unfortunately.]”
‘Your words and tone don’t quite match.’
Unlike the regretful content, her voice was full of excitement.
But Integra continued without a care.
“[Oh, come on. You must be mistaken, Master.]”
“[Don’t you think so? Hehe.]”
‘You’re laughing right now, aren’t you?’
She wasn’t even trying to hide it.
Shaking his head slightly, Luther spoke with a face full of apology.
“Sorry, Lilia. I think we have to leave today.”
“What? Today?”
Not only Lilia, but Karen and Max also seemed surprised at the news of his immediate departure.
‘But it can’t be helped.’
In the original story, Annerose defeated the Beast Lord Valakia about 5 to 7 days after its appearance.
He had defeated the Beast Lord on the same day it appeared, giving him more time, but he couldn’t be complacent.
“[The butterfly effect will be enormous.]”
Valakia was defeated, and the West wasn’t destroyed.
Even Annerose’s visit to Count Glasstone’s estate had been significantly moved up due to Luther’s appearance.
He didn’t know how the events in the South would be affected, so he intended to move south as quickly as possible.
“Lilia, you have your academic conference soon, right? I hope you get good results.”
“…Yes, Luther.”
It was truly a pity to see Lilia’s dejected face and slumped shoulders, but it couldn’t be helped.
“You said you were going south, right?”
Luther nodded at Karen’s question, and Count Glasstone spoke.
“Then it would be best to use the Agnes River waterway.”
The Agnes River, which flowed through the entire West.
Annerose in the original story had also used the Agnes River waterway several times.
Even with half of the West, centered around Venus, devastated, the waterway itself remained intact.
“Let’s meet again, Lilia.”
“Yes, Luther.”
Lilia nodded, albeit with a gloomy face.
And about 30 minutes later.
After bidding farewell again to Karen, Max, Lilia, and Annerose, who had seen him off to the entrance of the mansion, Luther left the Glasstone estate.
“[It’s a little bittersweet.]”
“[We should look forward to the day we meet again.]”
“Indeed.”
As a major character in the original story, there was a high probability that he would meet Annerose again.
But what about Karen, Max, and Lilia?
Would he really see them again?
‘We will.’
Karen had become Arma’s disciple, and Max would always stick by Karen’s side.
Lilia wouldn’t travel alone anymore or hire handsome men as escorts…
As long as they lived, the day they met again would surely come.
“[Anyway, Master, to change the mood, let’s talk about something important.]”
“What is it?”
“[Of course, it’s about the Southern arc.]”
“[You haven’t told me about the main scenario of the Southern arc yet.]”
Come to think of it, he hadn’t.
So Luther scratched his chin as if organizing his thoughts, then spoke to Integra, who stood before him with her arms crossed.
“First, the Southern arc takes place in the Malkuth Kingdom.”
“[The Malkuth Kingdom where Princess Pelialu lives?]”
“Yes. One of the key figures in the kingdom is a spy for Hecatonchires. That spy uses the Malkuth Kingdom’s treasures and ancient ruins to cause a massive tsunami… and the various events that unfold as the tsunami devastates the South make up the Southern arc’s scenario.”
“[It seems like devastation is always a prerequisite in this game.]”
“[And the protagonist always fails to prevent the disaster.]”
“[Now that I mention it, isn’t this a crappy game?]”
A game where only tragedies occur.
Moreover, despite the protagonist’s efforts, the disaster always strikes, making it a game for masochists.
“[Don’t tell me Master’s taste is….]”
“No! It’s, what’s it called… Yes! There’s hope even in tragedy! Just like a single ray of light shines brighter the darker the darkness is!”
“[But it ends in destruction, right?]”
“[So doesn’t that mean the light was eventually swallowed by darkness?]”
A series of hardships and sufferings, ultimately ending in bitter destruction.
Momentarily faltering at Integra’s point, Luther swallowed a groan and nodded.
“It is a crappy game.”
He supposed it couldn’t be helped since it was a prequel.
“[While offering my condolences to Master for diligently playing such a game… let’s return to the main topic.]”
“[So, who is the spy?]”
Knowing who the spy was would make things much easier.
They could just deal with the spy before they caused any trouble.
But instead of answering Integra’s question, Luther coughed awkwardly.
“[Master?]”
“Well, you see…”
“[Well, you see?]”
At Integra’s prompting, Luther scratched the back of his head and said with a slightly resigned expression,
“I don’t know.”
“[What?]”
“I don’t know.”
“[But why? You said you played it! You said you only didn’t know the game after the 3/4 point! Don’t tell me the Western arc was such a rip-off that it made up 3/4 of the game?!]”
Not only was it a crappy game, but it was also a rip-off?
As Integra rapidly fired questions, Luther broke out in a cold sweat.
“No! That’s not it!”
“[Not it?]”
“It’s… random.”
“[Random?]”
“Yeah, random. The spy changes each playthrough. So I can’t say for sure who the spy is.”
A random structure where the spy changes each time you play.
It provided a fresh experience for the gamer, but that was only from the gamer’s perspective.
“[No, but, really, wow… this is completely, wow… a truly crappy game.]”
For Luther and Integra, who had to catch the spy and prevent the tsunami that would cause all the tragedies of the Southern arc, a random spy wasn’t a fresh gimmick, but rather a frustrating one.
“[Sigh… sigh….]”
“[But Master, you at least have some candidates, right?]”
“[It’s not like a random extra suddenly becomes the spy, right?]”
“No, that’s not it. It’s one of three people.”
“[Sigh… that’s a relief.]”
“[Who are they?]”
“The Queen, the Grand General, or the High Priest.”
“[What?]”
“One of the Queen, the Grand General, or the High Priest is the spy.”
At Luther’s answer, Integra covered her face with both hands.
“[The Queen, the Grand General, or the High Priest is the spy? Isn’t the Malkuth Kingdom already doomed?]”
Moreover, with such high-ranking individuals, it would be impossible to rashly accuse them of being a spy.
Even with clear evidence, it would be difficult to act.
“[Truly a crappy game.]”
“[Why did it have to collaborate with this game of all games?]”
“[Star Savior is definitely a great game.]”
As Integra pretended to cry, Luther furrowed his brow and asked.
Even amidst the despair, he became curious.
“Why is Star Savior a great game?”
“[Because I’m in it.]”
“R-right.”
The original Integra was completely different from the Integra before him, but if she said so, then it must be so.
“[Sigh, anyway, three candidates are better than fifteen.]”
“[And unlike the original, we can also get help from Princess Pelialu.]”
Integra was right.
In the original story, due to Princess Pelialu’s death, the perception of surface dwellers within the Malkuth Kingdom had plummeted.
It was so bad that Ash had to disguise herself throughout the Southern arc.
On the other hand, Luther could walk around the kingdom openly, receiving the favor of Princess Pelialu and the Grand Warrior Sandalphon. His situation was incomparably advantageous compared to Ash’s in the original story.
‘Speaking of which, I miss her.’
The sociable and friendly Princess Pelialu.
He chuckled as he recalled her complaining about being confined to her room for months after returning to the kingdom.
“[Anyway, Master, we’ve already left Venus while walking.]”
“[How do you plan to travel to the wharf to use the waterway?]”
“[1. Walk]”
“[2. Find a horse]”
“[3. Ride a drone]”
Luther blinked at the listed options.
As always, option 3 stood out.
“A drone?”
“[Shall we try it out?]”
“[Our new combination phrase?]”
Integra had said she would develop a new drone last night.
Could it be that she had already finished?
“[Combine Sequence.]”
“[Access Code: Air Striker.]”
“[You’re curious, aren’t you?]”
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t.
Luther quickly moved to a secluded spot, away from the eyes of others, and equipped his nanosuit.
And about 10 seconds later, a bright smile appeared on Luther’s face.
—–CROW—–
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[T/N: I decided to pick it back up after some thinking, but I wouldn’t be able to continue this novel without you guys support. So, please buy premium chapters if you can.]