Chapter 9: A loyalty rune!
"You can tell me your name," Tetsuya said to the young knight whose body was hidden well beneath the bush. The young knight turned his surprised eyes to the game master, then sighed.
Why would he sigh? "It's not like I was waiting for your permission. Did you tell me your name or even attempted to introduce it properly?" As Tetsuya was crazy, the young knight just mumbled these questions out and answered them properly.
"Brolu is my name. I am the Low V Knight in the Mystic Academy." This rank was the lowest, so everyone with some knowledge would be able to tell that Brolu was the young man who has taken the sword just recently.
There was also a chance that he was that bad, but Tetsuya felt like there was more to this young knight.
It was solely from the fact that his body could be hidden from the minimap!
"Since this world already knows about, you might as well know my name. I am Tetsuya." The game master then introduced himself while not forgetting to spit out some bullshit. Of course, it was normal for Tetsuya to introduce himself like that!
He then leveraged the betraying world by laying on its ground.
Next, his eyes swept through the bandit camp from the bush! Their numbers were getting lower, so it meant that the boss Roman will be alone in just a few minutes! They followed their routine so instinctively that no orders were needed!
As Tetsuya's eyes turned to the side, he could see Brolu's hand clenching his short sword tightly. The young knight was looking decisive and ready to strike at any moment!
Once the bandits left to have their own small hunts, Brolu rushed forth!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
His steps were so loud that Roman raised his eyes from the bonfire. He saw the armored young man rushing at him with a short sword slightly above his head. The whole slash preparation looked rather amateurish, even for Tetsuya's eyes.
Then, the young man shouted, "Roman, the bandit boss! I am here to challenge you to the death battle!" Like a knight, Brolu challenged his opponent then increased a little more in his speed.
It was now, his prime speed!
"What kind of knight are you? I can't even refuse this challenge, can I? Tche." Roman clicked his tongue, then raised his board body. His whole muscles tightened so much one could see his body emitting some kind of aura.
The powerful rune strengthened him to the maximum!
Then, he raised his big hand. This hand had so many scars that it was obvious as to what his next move would be! "Come faster, brat." He even urged Brolu to come faster as if his skin itched for some pain!
Boom!
The young knight never stopped his charge, so his sword reached the big hand as soon as possible. The moment the flesh and steel connected, an explosion of two powerful weapons echoed throughout the bandit camp!
It sounded like steel was going against steel which shocked the young knight! "So strong… If my sword is not enough, then I shall use my rune! LOYALTY!" Brolu's last word sounded different than his usual voice. It was as if his voice was imbued with some magic or energy! The word 'LOYALTY' sounded so different, but Roman was also familiar with it.
In the past, he had to hide from the noble and his eyes managed to peek at the LOYALTY RUNE power that broke the boundaries of his imagination!
However, Brolu was certainly weaker than this noble.
His LOYALTY just caused some golden light to escape his gloves.
Nonetheless, his grip was stronger and he began to cut through the strengthened hand!
"I still have my left, brat," Roman announced, his fist long in the motion!
Their battle was eyed by Tetsuya who was not too far away.
He saw their exchange, their runes, and blood that long tainted Brolu's shining armor. His eidetic memory remembered each of their moves closely, then Ashley's voice commented on the battle for him, who stood like the ego sovereign he was.
She was somewhat excited. "That's loyalty! He must be a noble, you know?" Ashley explained that this rune was one of the common ones in the noble circles as it used loyalty for one's household and the kingdom. There were 'two loyalties' in this sense! Each was unique on its own!
But Tetsuya didn't care about some kingdom or noble household. "You should be able to use this rune and if you don't have one, then I will get one." Tetsuya's voice told Ashley that he wanted this rune badly.
Her usual series of questions escalated due to it. "Why are you so interested in that rune? Ahhh! I know!" Ashley felt like she could outsmart this ego otherworlder! Her voice immediately thundered within his mind!
"You want to add the loyalty rune to our 'Loyalty Measurement'. It will be a great addition that could unlock features based on loyalty itself. It also could give death to the player if he were to betray our rules or us!" It was a great idea that Ashley liked. It would mean that Tetsuya and she had to modify the loyalty rune and it was alone an exciting process. Modifying the runes was something foreign to her as she could only learn about those and the world itself.
But the game rune allowed this! Ashley could play with the runes and she was so eager to try it that Brolu's fate might take a huge turn if no one stopped this excitement.
However, her partner had something else in mind. "It's about your loyalty." Tetsuya's self-esteem was bigger than anything else. If someone were to answer his expectations and possess high loyalty solely for him, then this rune would turn one into… a god.
"You are all words now, Ashley. No, your minimap and knowledge are nice. I also like your voice the most, but that's all words for now nonetheless. I want to see and feel your loyalty as my woman, partner, and future bride." Tetsuya completely stupefied his partner.
His words alone caused Ashley to forget about the young knight and his battle. Nothing could be heard by her! However, Ashley soon spoke. "It's no mere words. I will show it to you. Our case is so sensitive that you will be able to feel it too clearly!"
Ashley knew that Tetsuya would deliver what she liked the most. The new world, the new runes, and excitement that came from modifying the world with their purple cube, the game rune system!
All of this would lead to her getting the real body, Ashley was sure of it.
Her goal to change Tetsuya's mindset towards his loved ones also was clearly written within her heart. It was solely because Ashley was bound to Tetsuya and knew that after all of this her oath wouldn't be broken!
"Even if you become a naughty demon?" Tetsuya probed with a smirk. Not like a naughty demon would be able to control him!
"I won't become a naughty demon!" Ashley resolved herself and faced Tetsuya, but she was the only one who could see his face. When she saw that he was satisfied and interested in the loyalty rune, Ashley smiled on her own and unlocked the feature.
[Game Master's Assimilation.]
This feature allowed her to use her skills from Tetsuya's body. Her 'Q' could make an appearance in the real world now!
"A loyalty rune will be gained no matter what. This simple addition you spoke about is interesting too. Though it will be limited without our interference, we will be able to strengthen our players further. Now, let's watch the battle."
"Yes!" A lovely voice agreed! Then, Ashley went pale as the bandit boss was approaching the third stage after Tetsuya's modification! This stage made him look like a demon!
She couldn't help, but mumble… "What did you do to him?" A demon so early? Ashley questioned her partner twice whose eyes were rather too calm!