I want to smash the Adventurer’s Guild.
It’s been on my mind for all 12 rounds.
Of course, it’s just daydreaming, and I’ve never once thought about how to actually smash it.
The Adventurer’s Guild has a strong bond with the adventurers.
The guild acts as a middleman between quest providers and adventurers.
Adventurers use that mediation and the facilities provided.
In other words, they have a strong trust relationship.
Strictly speaking, the guild is kind of abusing its power in this structure.
But if I could just break that trust relationship, I could give them a big surprise.
How could I possibly break the trust relationship?
I didn’t need to contemplate too deeply.
I already had enough power to smash the guild, so trust was irrelevant.
[Trait: Mana Control (lv.1)]
[Skillfully controls the mana within the body. Consumes a small amount of mana to significantly enhance physical abilities. Takes damage when overloaded.]
The trait of Mana Control I got from forming an alliance with Blin.
This was unexpectedly OP.
By gradually consuming mana, my senses sharpen, my strength increases, and my body speeds up; it feels like Guardian Knight-level performance.
Of course, that comes with significant penalties.
Since the depletion of mana isn’t visible in real-time, I have to guesstimate based on feeling.
If I mistakenly use up all my mana, I’ll experience Mana Exhaustion, leaving me almost unable to stand due to the weakness.
Getting excited and overloading is also a problem.
The moment I exceed my limit, a sharp pain seizes my entire body.
If my future aspiration is to be a charcoal-grilled sausage, cranking up the output to max might not be a bad idea.
“Human, did you really do all this alone? Aren’t the guards veteran adventurers?!”
“Don’t talk to me… My whole body aches…”
I was comfortable when ambushing adventurers one by one.
But attacking the mixed guild’s guards, made up of mages and knights, was on a whole different level.
Not a single one could die, and I had to not make a big ruckus either.
Still, thanks to Mana Control, I somehow succeeded in quietly neutralizing the guild.
After the fight, as Blin and the crew came rushing over,
I was already sprawled out on the ground due to Mana Exhaustion and overload.
“Human, how are you so ridiculously strong?”
“Do you really need to know?”
“Kek! No need to know! We just had to deal a blow to the adventurers!”
“Right. That’s all that matters.”
Seeing Blin’s gleeful expression complicated my feelings.
I’ve met him 12 times, but it was the first time I’d seen him smiling.
He always ended up crying as I beheaded him with my sword.
Not that I felt any attachment, though.
We just momentarily shared an understanding and shook hands.
Now that we’ve seen everything, it’s time to part ways.
“But can we really take all the gold bags?”
“I told you to take them. Melt them down and sell them to the dwarves, do whatever you want. I’m just taking two bags for myself. Oh, right. Can I take your wooden club as loot?”
“Kieek? My wooden club? It’s nothing special!”
“I know, dumbass.”
“Human, you’re quite peculiar! Not in your right mind!”
I scored a sacred item, wooden club.
I feel empty without it now.
I occasionally use it for back pain or as a laundromat stick.
It’s a universal magic stick.
[Achievement Unlocked]
[First Loot Acquired!]
[As a reward for the achievement, the trait ‘Acquaintance’ has been granted.]
[Since you already own the trait ‘Acquaintance,’ the proficiency of the trait ‘Acquaintance’ has increased.]
Even though I didn’t steal it from Blin, it gets classified as loot.
I suppose it’s because I said I’d take it as ‘loot.’
The system’s judgment is quite lax.
“I’ll warn you once more, if you spread rumors about me…”
“If we spread rumors about you, it’s obvious the adventurers will hunt us down like rats, so why say that! We’re not that stupid!”
“Good, you understand. I’m off now.”
“Kek! Strange human, take care! Let’s not meet again!”
As the sun started to rise, Blin and his crew disappeared into the forest, all burdened with gold bags.
I considered setting fire to the guild and immediately fleeing, but I decided to stick around a little longer to watch.
As day broke, the reactions of the adventurers discovering the burnt guild varied.
Some were still in denial, smacking the arrogant staff.
Some looked utterly despondent as if they’d lost their entire fortune.
Others were out of their minds, rampaging around.
A slight sympathy surfaced, but remembering that these guys have been sucking the life out of citizens erased my pity.
Thinking that I had eliminated competitors for challenging dungeons felt refreshing.
I was planning to clean up local dungeons before they touched me, so this gave me a nice time buffer.
First, let’s match my equipment.
“Ouch. This is heavy.”
“What is all this?”
Thud.
I stepped into a shoe store and dropped the gold bags.
The estimated value of the gold Blin’s group had swiped overnight was in the millions.
And even though I only brought back two bags, it felt like my waist might snap.
I should process this quickly; it’s better for my back health.
“Here’s the money I’ll be spending.”
“What? How many pairs are you planning to order…?”
“One pair… No, I should get a spare, so make it four pairs.”
“…?”
When I have money, I should spend it.
I’m not planning to invest in housing or prepare retirement funds.
I have no reason to skimp on equipment and items.
Plus, I’ll earn enough money later on that I won’t feel the slightest regret about spending this petty cash.
“Eh? You want thin steel plates wrapped around the ankles? And the soles thick enough so that even blades can’t dig through?”
“Yes, please. Don’t hold back on the materials.”
“What kind of boots is this…”
The artisan grumbled but quickly measured my shoe size and got to work.
These are for my Frost-style Swordsmanship, using my whole body as a weapon.
It’s bound to be the first time making this equipment, but he’s the best artisan around, so he should whip it up quickly.
It would have been better if he were a dwarf, but human artisans are skilled enough.
“A ring… You want it sturdy enough to withstand a blade?”
“Yes.”
“Are you in your right mind, customer?”
Since I entrusted the shoes, I also ordered a ring from the adjacent shop.
It’s also necessary equipment for my Frost-style Swordsmanship.
Yerina wears ten rings on both hands, but I find it easier to just wear one.
This doesn’t require any special technique, so I don’t need to find a highly skilled artisan.
As long as they can make a thick, heavy ring, that’s all that matters.
I decided not to care if the artisan looked at me like I’m insane.
Ideally, I wanted to entrust it to Palana’s artisan…
But I definitely don’t want to attract Yerina’s attention.
Or even get involved with her at all.
Yerina has a keen sense, and she might catch on immediately.
This guy is stronger than he looks.
Once I draw the main heroine’s attention, it becomes a real headache in our game.
Having decided to challenge the Final Boss, I must completely eliminate connections with the main heroine.
That’s my plan for the final round.
‘Yerina won’t be a problem.’
Yerina generally doesn’t come down from the Northern Continent.
Unless there’s a special event, she rarely leaves Palana.
Unless I flaunt my Frost-style Swordsmanship in front of everyone like a madman, it’d be safe to say I won’t run into her.
‘Yulia is even harder to deal with.’
Yulia dodges as much as she tackles the conquest difficulty.
Due to her social anxiety, she’s basically holed up in Petenburg high-rise buildings, making it impossible to meet her.
As long as I don’t draw her attention, she won’t stalk me or obsess over me.
After 12 years of pent-up frustration, it feels way better now.
‘Jill is… a bit tricky.’
But Jill is the problem.
If left alone, she’s destined to be assassinated by the anti-Priestess faction in a month.
Since this is my last round and I’ve given up on harem endings, what happens to Jill is not my concern.
‘I have to save the Priestess.’
As long as she stays alive, that’s all that matters.
Jill is currently like a restraining element for the church.
If the Priestess disappears, the church will label the anti-church factions, including Petenburg, as enemies and start a holy war.
If the atmosphere along the borders turns hostile due to war and makes dungeons difficult to navigate, that would be unfortunate.
Thus, Jill needs to stay alive and play her part as the church’s war deterrent.
As long as she’s alive, I don’t care what happens.
So the question is, how do I save Jill?
‘I really don’t want to save her half-heartedly and end up with an obsession.’
Maybe it’s due to reading too many web novels.
I suddenly think of rushing to Hameln wearing a mask to save Jill while hiding my identity.
How did the protagonists who saved heroines typically end up?
The heroine would somehow find out the masked man’s identity and become obsessed.
Just imagining it sends chills down my spine.
My lengthy web novel experience almost became my downfall.
I decided to just send an anonymous letter to Jill’s bodyguards.
Warning them to be careful regarding the cathedral’s completion ceremony that’ll happen on a certain date.
I typed it out so that my handwriting wouldn’t be recognizable.
This neat approach makes all those masks seem unnecessary.
A sigh escapes me.
I guess I still haven’t gotten my head back after being tormented throughout the 12 rounds.
“It’s about time I head into the dungeon.”
I got new equipment and a sword.
I also acquired the useful skill of Mana Control that I didn’t have in previous rounds.
But what is it that makes me hesitant about going into the dungeon?
[Stats]
[Strength: 9(-5) * Guardian Knight penalty applied]
[Stamina: 7(-5) * Guardian Knight penalty applied]
[Mana: 12(-5) * Guardian Knight penalty applied]
[Dexterity: 18(-5) * Guardian Knight penalty applied]
[Luck: 14(-5) * Guardian Knight penalty applied]
*Ugh. I still can’t shake off the Guardian Knight penalty.
Until now, I always went in with a heroine, so I didn’t have to worry about activating the Guardian Knight.
Of course, it’s true I’m strong enough to dominate the early dungeons even without the Guardian Knight.
But the problem is stamina.
While Mana Control boosts my strength and dexterity significantly, it doesn’t prevent my body from tiring.
To clear dungeons day and night, I need to activate the Guardian Knight.
But where’s that good companion who can keep following me, feeling I’m protecting them and obeying my every command?
“Heh, what kind of companion is that?”
Such companions don’t exist in the world.
They’re no different than slaves.
“Oh. Slaves.”
Come to think of it, this world is a class-based society.
Just buying a slave would solve my problems.
A ridiculously simple and clear solution suddenly dawns on me.
First, I need to head and buy a slave.
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