Varocia : From Gamer to Mentor

After that, it was a rinse-and-repeat process.

Edith donned the Curse Armor of Bloodthirst, tirelessly grinding [Berserk Cleave] using the two-way exploit proposed by Olgan, all while training her newly-acquired skill, [Desparado Resolution].

As the sun fallen toward the horizon, Edith's [Berserk Cleave] increased to Level 5, while her [Desparado Resolution] remained at Level 1, hovering at 23% EXP.

Meanwhile, Olgan's [Guidance] had risen to Level 9, sitting at 12.65% EXP—not far from the elusive Level 10. He suspected the maximum level still capped at 10, but he couldn't be sure.

Regarding a way to exploit [Desparado Resolution], it should be akin to their strategy with [Berserk Cleave], yet he urged her against it. Her HP would plummet to dangerously low levels from just activating the Skill alone; pushing to exploit more was simply not worth the risk. Slow and steady grinding was a safer approach.

As they made their way back into the castle, they encountered uncle Shane, who was wrapping up the apprentices' training for the day.

Shane glanced at them, then turned back to the trainees, only to widen his eyes and look at them again.

"Edith and Olgan have gotten much stronger, especially you, Edith!" he exclaimed.

He noticed that? What keen perception… well, I suppose being a Chief Knight Instructor wasn't just for show, Olgan thought to himself.

Shane jumped down from the platform, approaching them with a hearty laugh. "Haha! Looks like Edith was right! You really are one of the best mentors I've ever met!" He gave Olgan a hearty pat on the shoulder.

Edith quickly interjected, "Uncle Shane! You will kill him!"

"Oh, right! Sorry, sorry!" Shane chuckled sheepishly.

Olgan glance at his HP, breaking out in a sweat as he saw it drop by 20 points.

A casual pat had taken 20 HP!

"Hah... I'm just too used to being around apprentices for Magic Swordsman training. This is the first time I've actually patted a Mentor's shoulder. They're so fragile and weak," he sighed, scratching his head.

Oi… you're not wrong, but I'm standing right here! Olgan was left speechless.

"Still, I'm genuinely curious about how you train this little princess. Are you willing to shar-"

"No!" Edith cut him off sharply.

"You've grown up so fast… you weren't this fierce when I trained you as a child," he sighed again, waving his hand as he leapt back up to the platform.

"Oh, right. The duke and duchess have returned. They're waiting for you in the dining hall," Shane reminded them.

Edith nodded. "Thank you, uncle Shane."

Olgan immediately felt a wave of anxiety rush over him. Would they be angry with him for leading their daughter astray? What would they do to him?

Seeing Olgan breaking out in cold sweat, Lenna's eyes lit up momentarily before returning to their usual coolness. She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Maybe they'll dress you up in the 'finest' asymmetrical clothes they have."

"Stop, stop! I don't want to have nightmares tonight!" He gently pushed her away, then covered his ears.

Lenna chuckled softly, slipping back into her cool demeanor.

I will definitely get her back one day! he vowed silently as they walked into the castle, heading toward the dining hall.

While walking, Olgan asked hesitantly, "Uh, is it really okay to join you in the dining hall?"

Edith smiled reassuringly. "It's perfectly fine. Besides, they expressed a strong interest in meeting you."

Olgan couldn't help but feel nervous again. This was a true noble of Duke rank! Someone who could end him with a mere flick of displeasure!

Or maybe I've read and watch too much plots about corrupt nobles… He sighed, allowing destiny to guide him.

As they entered the dining hall, he was greeted by a lavish spread of food...

Lavishly vomit-inducing!

What are those sad-looking asymmetrical dishes...? His eyelids twitched as his appetite vanished, and he wanted to flee the dining hall.

Forcing his legs to carry him forward, he noted the servants preparing a separate table for him. It seemed the main table was reserved exclusively for the Magect family.

Not surprising, considering he was an outsider. Besides, having his own table meant he could choose his own meals without being forced to endure the sight of their asymmetrical dishes!

He glanced toward the head of the table, but the duke and duchess had yet to arrive.

"What would you like to eat?" Aqualia, who appeard out of nowhere besides him, asked.

He was spooked for a moment. Seeing it's Aqualia, he calmed down and pondered before saying, "Kaseto Steak, please. Thank you."

He found Kaseto Steak delicious, but more importantly, it was a safe choice in order to blend in.

Aqualia pushed up her glasses—when had she even pulled them out?, "What would you like for drinks, appetizers, and dessert?"

Olgan wore a thoughtful expression before asking, "Do you have grape juice?"

"Yes," she replied with a nod.

"Then, grape juice, please. Everything else, I'll let you decide," he responded.

"Okay." She nodded and walked away, presumably to the kitchen.

As he waited, more people entered the dining hall.

A man with short hair, slightly older than Edith, entered, his grey and tint white hair shimmering like fine silk. He wore an extravagant asymmetrical royal garb that proclaimed his nobility, radiating handsome charm that would make girls fall in love. Though he appeared kind and approachable, Olgan sensed something off about him.

How to put it? He seemed too perfect.

His instincts tingled; could this be the one behind the attack in the forest?

Of course, that was merely his gaming intuition. This was the real world. Although it has game-like elements, he wouldn't use game logic to call out the main villain upon their first meeting.

"My dear sister, I heard you were attacked. I'm relieved to see you safe." He sat down across from Edith, concern lacing his voice.

Edith's gaze met his, and she smiled back. "Thank you, my dear brother Eden. Unfortunately, I had to use Reset and now have no choice but to tread a different path," she said, her tone laced with dejection.

Eden offered a kind smile. "The path of a Tank is not so grim. You could always consider marrying someone from the Lancield family. I'm sure they would appreciate you."

The atmosphere chilled immediately.

Lenna's grip tightened around the hilt of her sword, while Eden's two bodyguards, likely Prince Knights, glanced at each other and then focus their gazes at Lenna, ready for conflict.

Edith's expression hardened. "You need not concern yourself with whom I choose to marry, dear brother. Instead, you should mind your own affairs, especially since I've heard that the Royal Princess of the Wintoria Empire has taken a fancy to you."

Upon hearing her words, Prince Eden clenched his fists, yet he suppressed his anger, forcing his smile to remain in place. "Her Royal Highness Veila is indeed beautiful and elegant, worthy of being my marriage partner."

Olgan felt drained just from witnessing their family reunion, Hah… maybe I should reconsider living here…

However, the way Prince Eden interacted with Edith led him to suspect he was indeed the one who orchestrated the attack on her carriage in the forest.

Wait... there are stories where the most obvious villain turns out to be innocent. A classic bait-and-switch, where the most unassuming character becomes the final boss.. His mind spiraled into overthinking mode, analyzing the plot.

As Olgan distractedly waged war within his mind, the tension in the dining hall reached a boiling point when the Duke and Duchess finally arrived.

Olgan nearly choked at the sight of the Duke's flamboyant, overbearing black and white asymmetrical royal garb.

Words could not capture the atrocity of his attire; it was simply too much!

He had thought Edith's fashion sense was questionable, but the duke was a league of his own!

The duke was a middle-aged man with a greying hairline, he emanated the aura of a battle-hardened veteran. Countless scars marred his body, evidence of a lifetime spent on the front lines, instilling fear in enemies. He radiated an oppressive presence that made Olgan feel like prey under the gaze of a top predator.

However, his mind wandered elsewhere. Don't they have healing-type classes or Recovery Potions? Why does he have battle scars?

Then, glancing at the utterly garish royal garb, he felt a spark of understanding. He must have drawn all the aggro on the battlefield! ...though that didn't explain why his scars were still there.

Turning to the duchess, he noted her long, wavy white hair styled in an elegant bun. She radiated a beautiful yet mature charm that surpassed many women he had met in his previous life. Fortunately, she wore a more appealing red and black royal garb, a stark contrast to her husband's over-the-top assymetrical style.

Trailing behind them were their personal guards. Olgan remembered learning that Prince and Princess Knights were stuck at Level 40 unless they met certain almost impossible conditions; he couldn't discern whether these guards belonged to those two Classes or not.

He felt the Duke and Duchess's eyes upon him, sending chills down his spine.

Yet their gazes were fleeting; they took their seats at the head of the table, signaling the beginning of dinner.

Olgan couldn't help but pondered, There are only 4 of them? Maybe some of them are far away, so they couldn't come.

He recalled Edith referring to herself as the eldest daughter, which meant there must be at least one more daughter of the Magect family.