Valerius hesitated, unsure of the purpose behind the download.
Nevertheless, he found himself at a loss for what to do in the meantime, prompting him to click the download button.
Kachak!
In an instant, a rush of air enveloped him, as if an intangible aura was bathing his body.
Swoosh!
A peculiar sensation welled up inside him, one that he couldn't quite place, yet it felt oddly comforting, reminiscent of the warmth and familiarity of spending New Year's Eve at his grandmother's house.
"What happened?"
Curiosity piqued, he attempted to examine himself, casting his gaze downward towards his feet, his stomach, his chest, and even checked himself in the mirror positioned beside him.
However, uncertainty clouded his perception, leaving him uncertain of what he might find.
Yet, despite his persistent efforts, Valerius came up empty-handed, unable to discern any visible changes.
Ultimately, he resigned himself to this fruitless endeavor and ceased his scrutiny.
Valerius's gaze returned to the gaming phone, where a message popped up.
— Ding! —
Player Valerius successfully downloaded Mana Class.
1rst Mana Class: Support.
1rst Job Class: None.
—
His eyebrows shot up in surprise as he read the notification.
"What?"
He exclaimed, unable to contain his astonishment.
Thoughts raced through his mind as he muttered, "Did I just acquire the Mana Class I had chosen before the game began?"
Deep in contemplation, Valerius pondered further, "The game and the world I've been reincarnated into seem oddly similar, but what sets them apart?"
An idea suddenly struck Valerius, causing him to pause mid-sentence.
"Wait... Why not..."
His voice trailed off as he took control of the game character on his phone.
To his amazement, this time, the character responded and moved accordingly.
Within the game, Valerius approached a massive door that stood before him.
As he pushed it open, he found himself standing in an empty hallway adorned with a red carpet and candle-like decorations.
The paintings on the wall lacked intricate details.
Valerius had only two options, as the hallway extended in either the left or right direction.
As Valerius veered towards the left side, a sudden message materialized right before his eyes.
— Ding! —
Mission:
Summon Butler Garland.
Locate and Report the whereabouts of all the assassins to Butler Garland.
—
Rewards:
8th prince identity.
Assassins identity.
—
Upon beholding this message, he involuntarily halted in his tracks.
A question sprouted in his mind.
"What will be the consequences if I happen to fail the objective or mission?"
However, his phone remained obstinately silent, offering no response whatsoever.
Valerius tries to knock his head lightly.
"Right…
"I forgot…
"This is a phone, not a system that usual transmigrators would have."
Expressing his dissatisfaction with a click of his tongue, he opted to leave it be and proceeded onward.
As Valerius pressed forward, his gaze was drawn to the opulent hallway that unfurled before him.
Its exquisitely crafted design left him awestruck, as if he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure trove of beauty.
The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, their vibrant colors weaving tales of grandeur and ancient legends.
The polished marble floor beneath his feet exuded a regal elegance, reflecting the soft illumination emanating from ornate crystal chandeliers suspended above.
As Valerius ventured deeper into the corridor, his eyes widened in awe as he encountered the first colossal door.
Its imposing presence commanded attention, hinting at the secrets that lay beyond its formidable facade.
The door, crafted from rich mahogany, stood tall and proud, its surface embellished with elaborate carvings depicting mythical creatures engaged in fierce battles.
Valerius couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship that had gone into its creation, feeling a sense of reverence for the history and significance it represented.
With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, he was about to gently push the door open and hopefully step inside.
However, a message flashed across Valerius phone screen.
— Ding! —
8th prince private chambers:
Bedroom.
—
Intrigued, he entered the room and noticed a solitary maid meticulously arranging the pillows on his bed.
Their eyes met, and she greeted him with a warm smile.
"Welcome, 8th prince.
"Would you like to go and rest?"
Valerius's face registered confusion.
Why was this woman alone in his chambers?
Was this a normal occurrence?
He pondered the situation momentarily, then decided to let it slide.
Just as he was about to respond, the maid unexpectedly spoke again, repeating her earlier invitation.
"Welcome, 8th prince.
"Would you like to go and rest?"
This caught Valerius off guard, and he instinctively took a step back, creating some distance between them.
He stood there, facing her, and allowed her to speak once more, wanting to confirm what he had just heard.
"Welcome, 8th prince.
"Would you like to go and rest?"
He needed to be absolutely certain so he did it twenty more times.
Valerius finished inspecting the NPC maid and decided to thoroughly search his bedroom chamber.
He spent a considerable amount of time looking around but found nothing besides the maid.
Growing weary, he chose to exit the room and return outside.
However, as soon as he stepped out, a sudden message popped up, displaying the words.
— Ding! —
The player Valerius was badly poisoned!
Time remaining: 30 minutes.
—
Panic surged through Valerius as he frantically scanned his surroundings.
Then, a realization struck him, and his eyes widened with realization.
"The maid must be responsible for this..."
With renewed determination, he swiftly reentered the room, greeted once again by the familiar message.
— Ding! —
8th prince private chambers:
Bedroom.
—
However, upon stepping inside, Valerius discovered that the maid had vanished.
To his horror, another message appeared, stating words he would regret reading.
— Ding! —
The player Valerius entered a concentrated poisoned area.
The player was now extremely poisoned!
Time remaining: 10 seconds.
—
Valerius's panic intensified. He felt a sense of desperation, but all his efforts proved futile.
Eventually, back in his own room, staring at his phone, the final message appeared.
— Ding! —
Game Over!
—
Now, Valerius gazed at his phone, the screen displaying a haunting message:
— Ding! —
Game Over!
—
His head swiftly turned toward the front door, a surge of dread gripping his chest.
The thought crossed his mind:
"If I step outside and encounter that maid, will I meet the same fate as the character in my phone?"
The fear only intensified, strengthening his resolve to remain confined within the room. But restlessness seeped through his veins, compelling him to glance at his phone once more.
Another message awaited him, its words exclaiming a new beginning.
—Ding! —
New Game?
—
Still uncertain of its implications, Valerius found himself devoid of choice.
With a glimmer of hope that accepting would grant him the opportunity to play again, he made the decision to proceed.
Without delay, a subsequent message materialized:
— Ding! —
Spend 10 Magic Crystals?
—
A display revealed his remaining count:
— Ding! —
320 Magic Crystals
—
Valerius acquiesced and accepted, and in an instant, another message emerged:
— Ding! —
Spent 10 Magic Crystals.
310 Magic Crystals remaining.
—
Soon after, the words of what Valerius was thinking appeared.
— Ding! —
New game begins!
—
The message on his phone greeted his eyes. And then, yet another message emerged:
—Ding! —
8th prince study room.
—
The message on his phone mirrored his current location as he expected just like earlier, and to his astonishment, the same character appeared in the same space as before.
The gaming version of him.
Meanwhile, the poisoned Curry remained untouched beside the table, a chilling reminder of what it did to the previous owner.
Valerius discovered the enchanting power of Magic Crystals on his phone, allowing him to enter new game and play repeatedly even if his character died several times.
Initially, he returned to the maid but encountered the same outcome as before.
Realizing the futility of revisiting that encounter, he decided to explore the entire castle.
One by one, he ventured into the Private Chambers, Throne Room, Art Gallery, Music Room, and chapel, spending 100 Magic Crystals each time.
To his dismay, he encountered assassins in each of these location.
These assassins mirrored the behavior of the maid in his "Private Chamber: Bedroom" by vanishing upon his departure, leaving him poisoned.
Unfortunately, he was unable to access other areas of the castle.
Now, Valerius found himself back in the study room, pondering his mission.
Frustrated, he exclaimed, "I've searched every corner of the castle, yet I cannot locate Butler Garland. Where could he be?"
A sense of futility overwhelmed him, reminiscent of being trapped in a game without solving a puzzle, doomed to remain stagnant.
Suddenly, Valerius turned to his right and noticed a peculiar gadget resembling a bell. .
Recalling his mission, he muttered,
"Summon…
"Garland?
Fear coursed through Valerius's veins, causing his heart to race and his palms t
o grow clammy.
Uncertainty clouded his mind, yet a flicker of anticipation danced in his eyes.
"Should I?"
He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but there was a nagging feeling that this could be his chance to complete the mission.
After that, Valerius shook his head.
"I'll check that on the phone."