Chapter 136 : Return (2)
Return (2)
Ding.
As soon as I opened the [Regular Customer] window, I almost started cursing out loud, but I swallowed it back.
A surge of mixed emotions hit me, and my thoughts came to a halt.
"... Damn."
[Regular Customer]
〈General customer buff application rate: 15% + 20% = 35%〉
--------(Regular List)--------
〈 [1] Jeros Silver ▶VIP◀ 〉
└ Affinity: 90%
└ Buff application rate: Affinity / 2 + 20% = 65%
〈 [2] 〉
└ Affinity:
└ Buff application rate:
〈 [3] 〉
└ Affinity:
└ Buff application rate:
It was only after opening the system window that I remembered what I had missed.
I should have registered the battalion commander, Hank, or Lantz as [Regular Customer].
Had I registered in advance, one of them might have grown even further.
'Why did I let such a slot go to waste.'
It's disappointing.
It was an opportunity lost as I hesitated, debating who to register.
It's a mistake born from my habitually cautious nature, always searching for the best answer.
Some would call this 'indecisiveness' and point it out as a flaw.
Another lesson learned here.
'In a situation with so many variables and impossible to predict even a step ahead, quick decisions are important too.'
Why did Schutmann go berserk all of a sudden?
It was because of those 'unexpected events'—the rabbit beastkin and the cursed artifact.
Anything can happen on the battlefield.
I should have made a quick decision in preparation for such incidents—damn it.
'But, it's okay so far.'
If I learn from my mistakes and don't repeat them,
it will ultimately lead to my own growth.
What lies ahead is more important.
With that in mind, I was about to tap the [2] slot to register someone,
"......."
My moving finger stopped.
Wasn't slot [2] where Ralph used to be?
It's different from Jeros, who was registered automatically and just left there since it cost resources to remove him.
Ralph was someone I chose myself,
Someone I turned into a true regular and helped to grow.
To place someone else in the spot left by someone like that after they died,
my instincts were refusing.
I sighed at my own pitiful self.
"Haa."
My finger, unable to tap the [2] slot, seemed so pathetic.
In the end, I decided to leave [2] for now and pressed the [3] slot first,
just to check who could be registered.
〈Proceeding to register a regular customer.〉
〈Here is a list of customers to whom you've given 'Recognition' at least twice.〉
It was different from when I'd registered Ralph.
Hadn't so many people eaten my food by now?
The number of people eligible for registration had increased dramatically.
Thankfully, the company commanders and officers appeared at the top.
〈 Lantz Assetes 〉
〈 Hank Shaville 〉
〈 Dien Groove 〉
.
.
The list seemed sorted by strength.
Hmph. Hank's last name, Shaville... maybe he took after his mother.
Meanwhile, Legion, who'd never eaten my food, wasn't here.
'For now, let's leave one slot open.'
I had received the Oath Prayer from Legion.
Of course I owed her,
and from now on, I planned to keep Legion inside Granfen, not outside.
She was my number one pick for the [Regular Customer] slot.
Which left the next issue:
'Jeros' spot.'
If I remove Jeros, I'd have three neat slots open.
Naturally, I should give those spots to Lantz and Hank.
But I couldn't tear my gaze away from the affinity stat right below Jeros' name.
'Why is that?'
It had reached 90%.
Why is it still increasing even after he left?
Maybe after creating some distance, he started missing me more.
The moment I was rationalizing after all the money I'd poured into him,
"Huh?"
Right before my eyes, Jeros' affinity jumped from 90% to 92%.
This was truly bewildering.
Based on my experience with Ralph, I knew just how difficult it was to increase affinity.
But my hesitation did not last long.
'Either way, that narrow-eyed bastard can't eat my food anymore, can he?'
No matter that Jeros had given me opportunities and teachings,
and had even enabled me to survive Schutmann—he was a stranger now.
I couldn't waste the chance for Granfen's company commanders to grow stronger just for someone like him.
'Remove him.'
With that decision, I was about to remove Jeros from [Regular Customer], when—
"... Right, there's this."
My eye caught the word 'VIP' right next to his name.
It was a perk acquired by reaching 100% affinity with Ralph.
Even if I was going to let Jeros go, I had to check this out.
"Hmm."
Unlike 'Employee of the Month' in the [Inn] tab, there weren't any stat changes.
'Then, it must be an active perk, not a passive one.'
As expected, when I placed my finger on it, a new window popped up,
and the unexpected message made me frown.
〈Would you like to check the current location of VIP Jeros Silver? (Consumes 100 Recognition, cooldown: 28 days)〉
It consumed as much as 100 Recognition.
In other words, I had to spend a whopping thousand points just to use it.
Of course, my current point situation was abundant—I could easily afford it.
The real question was,
'Is it really rational to blow 1,000 points just to check his location?'
Emotionally, I wasn't thrilled.
But my reason instructed me firmly to use it.
Hadn't I experienced this enough by now?
If I hesitated to use perks, I'd only regret it in the end.
More than anything, the words the gods had told me lingered powerfully in my mind.
― I've poured all my remaining authority into the abilities I've given you. So always be mindful and actively use your perks.
Remembering how the system voiced this in the gods' voice,
I could use it without hesitation.
'Tell me where that squinty-eyed bastard Jeros is.'
〈Sharing the field of vision of VIP Jeros Silver.〉
Wait a second.
'What? Sharing his field of vision?'
As soon as the system voice, identical to the god's, finished,
"?!!"
I felt a sensation as if someone was pulling me by the crown of my head.
Or, more accurately, as if my soul was being sucked out.
Shweeeek!
For a moment, I endured the sensation of my soul piercing through space and time,
and when I came to, I was kneeling on my left knee with my head bowed.
"......."
Instinctively, I tried to stand, but my body wouldn't respond at all.
For a split second, I remembered when I watched key memories through Harper's Emotion,
"Apprentice Knight Jeros. I have come to undertake the promotion exam."
Jeros' voice, resonating from the vocal cords, startled me.
The level of vividness was on a whole different level from how it was with emotion.
'Ah, because this is the present, not the past?'
In other words, it seemed I was experiencing Jeros' field of vision, possessing him.
I'd only expected it to tell me where he was.
Definitely a perk worth the high cost.
And, hmm...
'Even with these narrow eyes, I can see everything fine. That's amazing.'
But there wasn't time to marvel at this.
I didn't know when the VIP perk would end.
'I have to focus and take in everything I see!'
Of course, that meant this squinty-eyed guy had to raise his head, which was frustrating,
but fortunately, a dignified voice called out Jeros' name.
"If you are ready, show us your accomplishment."
Jeros raised his head and spoke,
oddly putting a lot of strength in his voice, unlike his usual self.
"Thank you for granting me permission to draw my sword."
Even just uttering those words gave me a stifling feeling. Was it because...?
'Is he holding back a kukuk laugh?'
It was only for a moment that I thought it was absurd,
as soon as Jeros rose to his feet, the field of vision opened up.
Instantly, I could tell exactly where Jeros was.
In the heart of Kaisrad, the capital of the Kaischen Duchy.
'North Iron Castle.'
Only North Iron Castle had such a dizzying high ceiling and was decorated in such deep black.
I almost gawked at the real scenery, so different from the pixelated graphics,
but snapped back as soon as Jeros drew his sword.
Srrng.
Jeros looked straight ahead, raising his sword.
I sensed power emanating from both sides,
but regrettably, Jeros didn't spare them a glance.
Instead, I hurriedly observed the two people beyond the blade.
'Sovereign, Gillierm Kaischen.'
Even at the start of the game, he was a 7th rank, an absolute powerhouse called a 'Swordmaster'.
Even I, uninterested in the setting and worldbuilding, knew his name—a top-tier NPC.
His magnificent beard and intense gaze, even in pixel graphics, were striking,
but in reality, I now understood what it meant to be overwhelmed by charisma.
'He's even more impressive in person.'
In contrast, the person standing beside the throne was the opposite.
Judging by her position and her full plate mail, she was definitely the knight order commander,
watching Jeros with an extremely gentle smile.
The funny thing was—
'She's incredibly beautiful.'
On par with Plerine.
A sleek bob cut down to her neck, her translucent skin dazzlingly fair.
Ahem.
I wonder who she is.
'With that kind of beauty in her setting, she must be famous on the continent.'
Once again, I felt a pang for my ignorance of Belkhazium's world and lore,
and then Jeros' mana started to flow subtly.
His mana was clear but took on a subtle, uncolored hue.
A faint silvery sword energy covered the blade, resonating,
and the color deepened steadily.
Woooong. Woooooong!
Eventually, the transparency of the sword energy dropped to zero,
and the clarity hit 100.
In other words—
'It's aura!!'
Jeros had reached the 5th rank.
I thought I'd caught up, but damn it.
"All right. That's enough."
At the knight order commander's call, Jeros withdrew his aura.
He silently sheathed his sword.
But the mana from Jeros' body felt steady and calm.
From that, I could tell:
'He's not someone who has just reached 5th rank.'
Chances are, Jeros, like Schutmann, could draw out his aura immediately if he wanted.
But he was putting on an act, barely drawing it out in consideration of his audience.
'He went wild back in Granfen, but here, he really cares about his image.'
Sure enough, from around his solar plexus, I could feel a stifling, barely suppressed emotion.
"What do you think, Sovereign?"
At the knight order commander's question, one corner of Gillierm's mouth curled up in a grin.
He asked Jeros with an extremely satisfied expression.
"How old are you this year?"
The Sovereign's low, cavernous voice made Jeros bristle.
If it were me, I'd be sweating bullets.
Jeros got down on his knee and answered, his head bowed.
"Twenty-eight, sir."
Huh? That bastard Jeros is a year younger than I am?
'What a prematurely old-looking guy, huh?!'
If there are eternally youthful types like Legion, there are guys like Jeros, too.
"Pwahaha!"
The Sovereign's hearty laughter resounded atop Jeros' crown.
"So does that make you the youngest Little Fang?"
Jeros didn't answer; instead, the knight order commander did for him.
"He's not the youngest—by three months."
"Still, what an excellent talent."
No sooner had the Sovereign finished than—I heard a thunk! as something dropped.
When Jeros lifted his head slightly,
"!!"
On the ground lay Nash, the symbol of the White Fang,
and the people standing on either side of Jeros reacted violently.
Meanwhile, Jeros' narrow eyes widened, his eyeballs tensing with surprise.
"Sovereign. While it is true Jeros' talent is exceptional, the awarding of Nash is a bit prema—"
"Trisha."
At the Sovereign's command, Jeros' heart thumped violently.
No doubt it wasn't just Jeros, but the other squires felt the same.
Clank.
A sound came from the knight order commander kneeling at Jeros' ear.
"All is as the North wills."
At her lead, everyone inside the castle knelt and repeated in chorus.
"All is as the North wills!"
For a moment, the mighty chorus struck me as cult-like,
"?!!"
And then someone yanked me out by my crown again.
Sadly, it seemed the perk's time was up.
Shweeeek.
I heard that strange sound and felt those sensations again for a brief moment.
"......"
Before I knew it, I was back inside the battalion commander's tent,
with the system window I had opened earlier floating before me.
'I need to regain control and sensation in my body.'
Blink. Blink.
I opened and closed my eyes, moved my body.
Good, it worked well.
Relief washed over me and I let out a long sigh.
〈 [1] Jeros ◇◇ ▶VIP◀ 〉
Jeros' last name vanished and then reappeared.
〈 [1] Jeros Whitefang ▶VIP◀ 〉