'What?'
『 #Scenario 3: Complete... 』
『 Mission Clarification: As stated, #Scenario 3 involved absorbing the elixir with Isabella's help 』
『 Keyword: "help" 』
『 In some cultures, emotional relationships and the meeting of lips are rated 18+... Anything else you assumed is on you 』
Arthur stood there without flinching. Then he chuckled. 'So not only did that damn 18+ series scam me about how a kissfeels, the system was also mocking me?'
He sighed.
At least he wasn't going to do something he wasn't ready for. He glanced over to Isabella, who was still a bit confused. 'But still... To think I have a dirty mind. Not only did I die over a simple kiss, but here I am overthinking things.'
He shook his head. 'Now, how shall I lie my way past this scenario?'
Arthur smiled, patting Isabella on the head. "Thanks, Isabella. I have absorbed all the mana in the elixir."
Isabella's face turned red. "Is that so?..."
Arthur nodded, feigning ignorance like a kiss was all he needed and she was the one overthinking things. "Can I get a cup of tea and some cookies?"
As if waiting for him to dismiss her, she stood to her feet, bowed slightly, then exited through the door.
Arthur exhaled heavily and collapsed on the bed. "That was crazy..."
He closed his eyes and waited for the system to ring in his mind.
『 You have earned 100 mana points 』
『 You have earned 80 force points 』
『 Your stats have increased 』
He took a deep breath, letting the mana flow into his stable abdomen core.
Immediately, the system rang again.
『 You have completed #Scenario 3 』
『 Appraising reward... 』
『 #Scenario 4 has been generated... 』
『 #Scenario 4: Come out as number one in the awakening ceremony 』
Arthur felt his head go hazy as his mind descended into pitch-black darkness.
The only thought he could form before slipping into unconsciousness was:
Note to self: never believe what others say so easily. Friends or the internet. Because you might die for no reason.
Yes, he died because of something so simple, then by the grace of the gods, he was reincarnated and finally accomplished his goal, only to realize how petty it was.
Sweat mixed with impurities ran down his skin, his body tingled slightly, and his teeth remained clenched.
His mind slowly shut down, and mana began pulsing through him.
『 Brain Core is manifesting 』
-----
Inside the pavilion tower facing the Arcain's main castle, a large structure made from the same white ice as the main, stood atop one of the many peaks.
Within the highest room of the building were members of the sixth generation of the North, the vice clan heads, and the notable figures of the northern clans.
The room was filled with various drinks, and some even smoked to counter the chilling weather.
On one of the cushions in the lounge, a young man with blond hair and icy blue eyes spoke. His ears were pointed, the mark of an elf. "So, Lady Selena, have you reconsidered my offer of marriage?"
Selena Arcain glanced at him from the balcony just a few steps away from his chair. "Don't bring that up, Zahard."
"Come on, Selena. You know I truly love you."
Thyra clicked her tongue. "Can you stop being so cringe when I'm around? Damn playboy."
Zahard laughed loudly. "Is that what you think of me, Lady Thyra?" He smirked. "I think not. I'm quite the gentleman, if I may say so myself."
Alexis giggled softly from the bar. The room was rather small, so there wasn't much space between them.
"Zahard, you haven't yet outgrown your third-grader syndrome." She took a sip of orange juice and acted like she had taken a large gulp of alcohol.
A rather skinny man with a slouched back, who was tending to the bar, sighed. "You know that's orange juice, right, Alexis?"
Alexis pouted. "If someone hears you, they might mistake you for an old man, Gun, and me for a little bullied princess."
Gun nodded. "I suppose so. Since he refused to grow, even Steve is taller than you." He paused, cleaning a glass with a rag. "Where is Steve, anyway?"
Thyra looked toward the door. "Probably got himself lost again."
Zahard leaned forward. "So... who do you all think will be the best this year?"
Alexis' expression turned serious. "I suppose this year has as much hype, if not more, than our batch."
Gun nodded. "Yeah. I think it usually happens with whatever set closes a generation. Just like we were the final batch of Generation Six, they're hyping up the kids this time."
Thyra blew out a wisp of smoke. "Why should I care about those things? No matter who wins, they're still small fries." She grinned through the pipe of her vape. "But if someone does win, it'll be our youngest, right, Ice Queen?"
Selena glanced at her sister, then turned back to the snowy peaks.
Zahard and Alexis grinned. "You see, even Selena can admit the winner won't come from the Arcain family."
Selena lingered for a moment, then responded to their taunts. "I can't see a scenario where Art doesn't come out on top." She turned toward the room and entered. "Our youngest is a monster, I can tell you that."
Zahard's smile faded. 'For Selena to call someone a monster... this kid must really be something. But... I can't possibly let another person that isn't an elf win.'
He smiled mischievously. "So between him and you when you were that age — who would win?"
Selena's face darkened, as if remembering something. "Zahard."
The young elf's face lit up. "Yeah... do you want to confess your love to me?"
Selena looked him directly in the eyes, which made him flinch slightly. "You know that technique I recently created? The one that took me over a year to perfect?"
The group fell silent, then he nodded.
"Well, the youngest copied it in one try and even made the snow slice into the same arc. If he had force, I doubt he wouldn't have replicated it perfectly."
Every movement within the room stopped as they tried to process the information.
Selena was the strongest and most talented of their generation, one of the few to awaken with an SS-rank talent and quickly rise to Master rank.
But for that same genius, whom many struggled to defeat, to call another person a genius — and one who hadn't even awakened yet — then that posed a threat that could shake the continent.
Thyra frowned. "I thought little bro was a mage like me?"
Selena hesitated before nodding. "Yes. That's what amazed me even more."
The group's eyes widened. If it hadn't been the Arcain twins speaking, they might have dismissed the claim.
But it seemed they were witnessing the birth of the world's greatest talent. Not a fake genius or a prodigy, but a true genius. An SSS-rank awakened.
Alexis grinned. "Your brother doesn't have a fiancée, right?"
The twin sisters stared at her before she turned her head away. 'Well, who cares if they don't want it? I am, after all, the cutest thing in the world. Who is a little kid that I can't win over?'
─── ✦ End of Chapter ───