*pssssttttt*
Sitting on a rock below the water, I circulate my mana and integrate my life essence into my body.
...
My skin glows brightly as the feeling of cold water on my skin dissipates. It feels comfortable.
"Phew, this is the first stage of Muscle Reformation," I mumble.
The coldness feels warm and the impact of water felt similar to the soft silk touch.
I walk out of the water.
"Dry," I mumble as mana gathers around my body, evaporating whatever external liquid there is.
Wearing my coat, I reiterate what I learned and memorised from my mother's private lecture. Posture when walking, the tone when speaking, conversations to strike, everything was engraved into my mind.
Now then, there is another issue I am worried about.
-------------------
Due to reclassification, Quest for Sub-Antagonist "Irina" has been edited.
-Kill Irina Nelson(0/1)[Prime Quest]
-Kill Mideus Nelson(0/1)
-Kill Clifton(0/1)
-Eliminate servants of the Nelson family(0/50)
-Force a sword artifact to succumb(0/1)
---------------------
What is with this amount of slaughter quest? Did something happen to Irina?
Most of it is directed at her family. Clifton does not have "Nelson" behind his name, the family disowned him.
In regards to the sword artifact from the original quest, it became aggressive instead of mutual recognition.
...
What role do I have in this world?
------------------
A Disposable Background Character.
------------------
My role hasn't changed...
I decided to focus on the current situation.
"Lydia," I say as I extend my hand forward.
The ring on my right index finger morphs into a light sword in my hand.
(I want some blood! I need nourishment!)
Calm down, I have some food for you.
Although not physically, I can sense Lydia's delighted smile.
Two men are hiding atop the waterfall observing me, one of them is carrying a staff and the other a sword. Both are at the peak Foundation Establishment realm.
This is the power of a core formation, my senses are enhanced to the degree of ascertaining the atmosphere using only mere mana.
However, they show no hints of killing intent and most likely are observers sent to monitor my growth.
"Hey. Something is wrong." One of the men says. "He is just standing there..."
...
!!
"W-Wait! He disappeared!!" The man exclaims.
"What?! Where did he go?" Says the partner.
I sit on another branch behind the two troubled men, they are balancing on a tree branch beside the waterfall.
!
A sword shows up from behind them and is placed at their neck level.
"Answer me, who sent you," I say.
...
"Interesting, you were hiding your strength-" One of the men asks.
His head abruptly flies off when a burst of blood spills around, leaving his corpse to drop into the waterfall.
(Mmmm, not bad. The bad guy's blood tastes nice.)
Any blood that is splattered on the sword seeps into it.
"Answer me," I repeat myself.
The last man sighs. "Mideus Nelson hired us. We are mercenaries."
I expected it.
"Can I go now-" The man says.
Before he finishes, the sword is pierced through him.
!
"Y-You..."
I kick his body into the water. Lydia's blade turns slightly reddish as something inside changes.
Lydia is throbbing?
(Ahh...so delicious...)
...
(Try swinging me)
?
I jump down from the tree and take a vertical slash at the riverbank.
*BOOOOM!*
?!!
A large fan-shaped trench was created as waves of water split and buckled away. The resulting landform fold and buckles upwards, forcing the flow of water to approach another route.
"What the?!" I exclaim.
(Hehe...see? Feeding me can make me strong!)
...
I see, that's a fairly convenient feature for a demonic sword.
(Of course! You should be honoured to be my master!)
I don't want to hear a young girl's voice calling me "master", Loi will do.
The Nelson family again. Do they have a bone to pick with me? I simply defeat Irina and Clifton.
Even other nobles, who have a deep grudge towards me like the Calesta family, have not made a move.
Tch. That crazy hag Mideus did something to Irina.
Mi appears behind me at the moment, unfazed by the destruction. "Young Master, you have a visitor." She says.
"I already said to not call me that, Loi will do. I will return now." I say.
Mi ignores my comment and bows before disappearing again.
----------------------------
I enter my mother's office to find a scrawny and wounded boy sitting on the couch. He is chomping down on the rice given.
"Your mother went out for an errand." My father says, sitting opposite the man. "This guy is Clifton."
!
"I'm shocked too." My father says as he glances at my dropped jaws.
"What the hell happened..." I blurt.
"...*nom* *nom*"
Clifton ignores me and continues stuffing his mouth with food.
"He was severely wounded and starving when he collapsed at our mansion gate. The girls brought him in and took care of him." My father says. Three servants bow at me in the room. I return the bow with a smile.
I sigh and sat beside my father. After 7 minutes, he burps a little and stares at the table.
"Want more?" I say. Clifton shakes his head.
He gets up and stands beside the couch.
!
Clifton grovels at our feet. "Please help my sister!" He pleads. "My moth-...Mideus have gone crazy. She is feeding my sister demonic drugs!"
I was right.
After Clifton's escape, the Nelson family have jacked up their intake of illegal and dangerous drugs. My mother's organisation have found many small traces of the production and transport of that substance. However, the producers are very meticulous about hiding their tracks.
Clifton begins telling us everything he knows.
...
My father glares at the table. "What kind of parents would do that?!" He exclaims.
He has a sudden urge to get up and immediately head to their residence but it will be certain death. They have 5 enlightened swordsmen at the stage of Sword Soul.
"That's why, Loi, please lose to Irina!" Clifton says.
"Lose? In what?" I ask.
"The banquet." He says.
...
"What? Why would I fight her at the banquet?" I ask.
"Ah...it's...Prince Kaney's tradition. He likes to organise small fights to entertain himself and the guests during his birthday." Clifton says.
I've heard rumours of Kaney being a righteous battle freak, it's true?!
Clifton's head stays on the ground, awaiting my response.
---------------------
A new mission is available!
(This mission has two options)
-Decide what to do with Irina(Ignore)
1. Save Irina(Difficulty:SS)
Reward:
+1m Plot Points
+500,000 Plot Armour Value
+20 Common Draw Tickets
+1 Rare Draw Ticket
Or
2. Help Irina(Difficulty:A)
Reward:
-Completion of Irina's quest
+400,000 Plot Points
+100,000 Plot Armour Value
+10 Common Draw Tickets
---------------------
!
Both choices can change the future drastically. If I ignore it, the problem will snowball and eventually affect my family. Besides, The Nelson family is hell-bent on targeting us.
"I won't lose to Irina. But, I can try to save her." I say.
Clifton, although not exactly the answer he wants to hear, lightens up a little.
---------------------
The requirements have been achieved.
Due to the host's involvement in the story, the role of the host has been updated to
"Minor Side-Character" in "A Witch's Revenge"
+20,000 Plot Armour Value
+10,000 Plot Points
Plot Rank: 13->14
Required Plot Rank to become a Side Character:
16
---------------------
An absurd panel pops up.
Role update...?
...
My mother enters the office at that moment with a large rectangular box in her hand, it's the gift she chose for the prince. "Hm? Who is this boy?" She asks.
We explain everything to her. She was mad but isn't surprised. Afterwards, I rest for the day to prepare myself for the banquet tomorrow.
========================
The next day, as I help the servants bring the present to the carriage, I spot Clifton walking to the back of the mansion.
?
"Ah, young master, you can put it inside at the seat." Says the driver.
I lift the box and place it inside. It's very heavy, probably a sword.
Curious, I follow Clifton's track to the forest.
"Hah! Hap!"
It's Clifton swinging a wooden sword he borrowed.
Although he looks better, I can hear his shortness of breath. He was tortured and forced to swing his sword but he is still doing it now?
I expose myself from the bush.
!
"L-Loi? You were there?!" Clifton exclaims.
"I didn't hide my presence on purpose. Why are you still swinging your sword?" I ask.
Clifton stares at the sword in his hand. "Mideus' method of training me is inhumane. However..."
Clifton slashes at the tree nearby.
Blue crescent energy explodes out of the wooden sword, clearing nature all around us. I was thrown a few centimetres away.
!!!
The wooden sword dissipated into nothing from that. "It's effective." Says Clifton. "But I still won't accept such methods used on my sister at the cost of her life."
...
"Uhm... Loi, do you have a knight to accompany you to the banquet?" He asks. "If you don't mind, can I be your knight?"