[Hidden quest “Absolute Loyalty” has been completed.]
[Please select a reward.]
[1. Increase all stats except magic (10)]
[2. Instant completion of “Revelation Discovery”]
[3. Bind one desired equipment with summoning ability]
“……”
I was left dazed by the list of rewards that surfaced.
Each one was an incredible choice far beyond the average.
Is this what they call a happy dilemma?
Not at all.
From the perspective of the person involved, it’s just a predicament.
‘No matter what I choose, I have to give up the other two, so how is this a happy dilemma…’
I had no choice but to use the process of elimination.
First, option 1.
It’s the least appealing among the three.
If my stats were already ridiculously high, maybe, but I’m still just strong among teenagers.
I’ll grow more than this in the future, so option 1 is out.
Next, option 3.
Binding ability.
It allows me to bind a specific piece of equipment to me, enabling summoning/re-summoning at will.
Plus, it also significantly boosts the stats of that equipment.
However, I don’t have any equipment to bind at the moment.
Had option 2 not existed, I might have held off on option 3 to get it.
But option 2.
The “Revelation Discovery” quest has been increasing at 1% per day.
Currently at 2%.
To fill this, it would take 98 days.
In other words, picking option 2 would save me those 98 days.
‘This is it.’
After weighing various factors, option 2 is what I needed the most.
[Hidden quest “Revelation Discovery” has been completed.]
[Rewards are being presented.]
This quest was originally “Faithful Prayer.”
For some reason, it has been changed to “Revelation Discovery.”
From what I was told back then, it seems to be due to the moon attribute.
I don’t know any further details.
Anyway, since the reward for this quest is fixed, it’s a presentation, not a selection.
‘But will they give me what I know…? I hope choosing option 2 wasn’t a mistake…?’
[You have obtained the trait “Graceful Blessing.”]
‘Oh.’
It’s indeed that trait I know…
[The trait “Graceful Blessing” has been changed to “Guiding Revelation.”]
‘…?’
What is that?
It’s a name I don’t recognize.
Wait, it actually changed the reward?
‘No way. It has to have the effect I want… right?’
I hurriedly opened my status window.
Upon checking the description of the newly acquired trait, I gasped in surprise.
[Guiding Revelation]
– Provides complete defense against all magical damage once.
– Reuse cooldown of 24 hours.
Up to this point, it aligns with what I know.
But….
– The user’s magic stat growth rate increases twofold.
– When the user activates their magic, it resonates and amplifies the effect.
This effect was not part of “Graceful Blessing.”
‘It enhances the power of magic…?!’
Even if I unleash the power of a magic stat of 3, that can’t be underestimated.
Galliot and Sardis.
Their cases prove this.
They’re clearly stronger than me.
Yet, with this trait, their power is said to be enhanced.
And even the growth rate has accelerated.
Only for magic, though.
‘Umm….’
This is a completely unexpected benefit.
If it’s good, it’s naturally good.
But, why did this happen?
I’ve never seen such a situation.
Honestly, I’m a bit taken aback.
Moreover, even though Eliya could kill me because of the power residing in me, it’s enhancing that power?
‘Is this a good thing…really?’
Anyway, I got the ability I wanted.
Though temporary, it allows me to block magic.
Should this increase my odds of escaping tragedy?
Eliya could… strangle me…
“What are you thinking?”
“Ugh-!”
Eliya suddenly popped her head in.
After returning from Richard’s orphanage, I was grooming the Moon Deer with her in the stable.
Eliya pouted a bit, seemingly dissatisfied, and said.
“…Why are you so surprised?”
“Ah, I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Just various… meaningless thoughts.”
I couldn’t say I was pondering whether I could avoid the future where she’d strangle me.
“Hmm.”
Eliya gazed at me with an oddly sulky look.
Then she averted her gaze and casually said.
“I’m just curious about something.”
“What?”
“There’s been an opportunity to reorganize the training facility recently.”
I easily recognized what the opportunity was about.
Shylock, Gaston, Dalant.
Eliya had figured out the three planted by Balak.
While I had coerced Shylock, the other two were still at the training facility.
Eliya must have intentionally left them.
Whatever her purpose was.
“But I don’t know much about the training facility. All I get is the letters and numbers written on paper. That’s not enough to completely reorganize it. So, I’d like to hear the opinions of those who train directly there.”
“…You want to hear my opinion?”
“Yep. You.”
Suddenly?
Seems like quite an important issue?
“Feel free to speak. Just because it’s you doesn’t mean I’ll automatically agree.”
Eliya said nonchalantly.
As if she just wanted to hear my opinion.
‘Hmm…’
Actually, there’s one thing.
Since joining the training facility, I’ve been wishing for this all along.
I consider it the most important issue personally.
Anyway, I cautiously brought it up.
“I wish you’d change the meal composition at the training facility.”
Eliya tilted her head with curiosity, like a cat.
“Why?”
“Excuse me?”
“Isn’t the meal sufficient as it is?”
Sufficient doesn’t even begin to describe the meagerness.
Of course, that’s from my perspective.
For kids living on the streets, just having three meals a day is probably plenty.
There are some noble kids too, but they don’t bring up complaints directly.
After all, they should be adequately full after eating.
“Of course, there’s no problem with filling the stomach. But to digest the training and grow stronger, you need to eat well.”
“Hmm….”
Eliya still seemed to struggle to understand as she pouted.
‘What’s with that? So cute…. Ah, no. What’s wrong with me these days…!’
Shaking off such thoughts, I recalled a past memory.
Though we live in the same mansion, Eliya and I always eat separately.
That’s due to mismatched schedules.
We’re not close enough to require sharing a meal.
We only ate together once.
On the day it was decided I’d stay here.
Eliya and I shared a meal at the same table.
Back then, Eliya barely touched her food.
She scooped a few spoonfuls of soup and put it away.
Because of that, my act of eating everything seemed weirdly gluttonous.
I remember glancing over at Eliya’s body.
Being young, she had some chubby cheeks, but her neck was painfully thin.
Even her wrists, briefly revealed.
There were no more bruises, but they looked painfully skinny.
I didn’t think much of it at the time.
I just assumed she had no appetite after almost being harmed by Sardis the day before.
‘Was she just not eating properly at all…?’
Some nobles lounge around carelessly while others are burdened with endless tasks and training.
Eliya is among the latter.
‘Shouldn’t I be looking after her meals rather than the training facility? That seems far more important, right? Doesn’t her schedule take enough out of her too…?’
But I couldn’t just tell her to eat more.
Anyway, I understand Eliya’s position.
She doesn’t feel the necessity of eating in the first place.
Thus, she can’t accept my request.
“Miss. To endure a physically demanding schedule, eating well is of utmost importance. Only by eating well can you move well and become a stronger, more reliable knight.”
“Hmm….”
I know this is a difficult issue to address.
It’s not just due to Eliya’s eating habits.
Changing the training facility’s diet would incur massive costs.
Currently, there are a total of 240 candidates.
If I increased the daily meal cost by just 1 florin per two people, that totals to 120 florins.
For a month, that amounts to 3,600 florins.
Roughly 14 million won in Korean currency.
You can’t just change the diet for the candidates alone.
If you change it, you’d also have to consider the diet of instructors and various attendants.
It would be a long-term expense requiring huge sums.
I mentioned it because Eliya asked me to, but I didn’t expect anything in return.
If she says no, I’ll just have to accept it.
“I’ll look into it positively.”
But surprisingly, she answered smoothly.
I stared at her for a moment, surprised.
My dazed expression must have been amusing to her since Eliya chuckled lightly.
“Did you think I would refuse outright?”
“To be honest… yes. Partially.”
“Don’t you think I can ignore your opinion just because it’s you? It might be worth discussing with Sir Gawain. I can’t guarantee how much would change, even if we do change it.”
“I won’t ask for too much. I’d just be grateful if you could increase the amount of food.”
I don’t expect lavish meals sent from Eliya’s mansion.
Feeding candidates with such food might drive her to bankruptcy.
It doesn’t need to be diverse in taste or variety; I just want to ensure nutritional value and quantity.
Eliya nodded.
“I understand. Sir Gawain didn’t express particular opinions, but you are different.”
Well, he likely thinks similarly.
As long as they’re given three meals a day, that should suffice.
I know this as a concept in nutrition.
“Is there anyone else who genuinely cares for my well-being like you do?”
“……”
At that statement, I glanced over at Ria beside us.
Eliya’s ever-present maid.
She hovers like a shadow, stepping in when needed.
With her red hair, she always appears calm.
Her black eyes rarely reveal any emotions.
Perhaps out of long service.
Sometimes, she resembles Eliya.
Yet, occasionally, Ria looks down at Eliya with deeply submerged eyes.
Something resembling sadness.
I don’t know.
Her roots are red.
Last time they were dark.
Looks like she dyed them recently.
Does Eliya not consider Ria her ally?
Is Ria Eliya’s enemy?
I looked at Eliya.
She smoothly stroked the Moon Deer’s face, resting her forehead against it.
Eliya smiled.
A gentle, warm smile.
A look hard to come by from her.
It’s unfamiliar.
‘It feels strange….’
She maintained her smile as she looked at me.
I unknowingly averted my gaze.
It felt alien enough.
Unfamiliar. Too much.
Was it her? Or was it me?
What is it?
*
“Hmm.”
Gawain looked down at me, stroking his chin.
Covered in bruises, I lay on the floor gasping for air.
‘This insane man….’
Having received Gawain’s lessons several times a week, I should’ve been accustomed to it by now, but I couldn’t find any way to adapt.
Each time, he varied his methods of molding me.
Single-handed swords, dual-wielding swords, maces, flails, and even long pikes or halberds.
The sheer variety of weapons I have to deal with is staggering.
It’s like he’s experimenting on how to condition my body with those weapons.
‘Thanks to him, I’m learning faster than ever…’
[Weapon Mastery (Lv.2 > 3)]
Leveling up traits is harder than raising stats.
But thanks to Gawain’s training, I’ve hit level 3 already.
“Your growth rate has increased. I always appreciated your perseverance.”
“…Thank you.”
I checked my status window after a long while.
[Health: 15.8]
[Strength: 11.9]
[Agility: 18.0]
[Magic: 4.8]
[Trait List]
– Stealthy Steps, Object Weaponization, Weapon Mastery (Lv.3), Hunter’s Sense, Survival Expert, Guiding Revelation.
Thanks to eating well and resting at Eliya’s mansion, my stats have been rising steeply.
The significant change is in magic.
Receiving magic from the Moon Deer and the effect of Guiding Revelation have both significantly boosted it.
‘It’s unusual to raise the magic stat separately… Anyway, this little guy is impressive.’
Gawain shared some advice.
“Weapons are a knight’s embodiment, but you should not rely solely on them. You understand, right?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
As the name suggests, weapon mastery.
Due to focusing on that technique, I sometimes only use a sword and shield.
Especially when clashing with Gawain.
However, in actual combat, one cannot rely solely on tools.
You must use your whole body.
I learned one more lesson today.
I learned it after being kicked back while running at Gawain’s front jab.
“Is magic release still far from reach?”
The act of drawing power with magic.
Magic release.
I’ve been trying occasionally, but it’s not easy.
Even during Gawain’s training time, it’s not going well.
As he said, my magic circuitry seems set in one direction.
“Indeed.”
“Hmm. Do you know how one becomes adept at something?”
“By frequently exposing myself to that situation?”
I stated my thought, and it seems it was correct.
“You’re quite knowledgeable.”
“…Does that mean I should often encounter situations that anger me?”
“If that’s what you want.”
It’s not entirely incorrect.
Magic release is undeniably a useful skill.
Still, I prefer to control it autonomously whenever possible.
Lately, I’m also working on mastering my emotions.
…Really.
“I have one question. Are you perhaps a follower of the Molsin Church?”
“I have no particular religion I follow.”
“I see…. Understood. Keep at it.”
After Gawain left, I remained in the training ground.
Recalling what I learned today, I swung my sword alone.
*
Gawain sat at his desk.
The training facility has many buildings.
Surely including where the knights live.
Among them, Gawain received a separate personal structure.
Fully equipped with a study and everything one could expect.
Given that he was a knight of some prominence from the Bevel house, it was a large and sturdy building.
The reason he was dispatched to Eliya’s mansion is singular.
To monitor and protect Eliya.
Balak, who knows his loyalty, said so himself.
And that word “protection” doesn’t carry any affection or paternal love as family.
It was an exceptionally aristocratic and calculating command.
That’s how Gawain sees it.
Gawain is a knight.
One who serves his lord’s command.
He follows without personal feelings, simply traveling that path.
And the directive that just came down to him is part of that command.
However, what’s surprising is that the target of the directive is not Eliya, but Judas.
There’s no need for active intervention with this command.
It might not be beneficial for Judas.
‘……’
After carefully reading each word, he tore it apart and burned it.
So that no evidence remains.
He follows the command.
His honor and loyalty are tied to the safety of his family.
That’s all.
For some reason, he recalled Judas’s unwavering spirit, even while lying sprawled on the floor.
Like a mirage.
The only bubbling pride he felt in the past few years. Achievement.
The feeling of watching someone grow cannot be overshadowed by any order.
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