Chapter 259

Chapter 259 - The Full Moon’s Choice

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍player who entered Act 2 was a survivor who had lived through the murder game with his siblings in the early part of the game.

If ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one somehow avoided death and fought only a war against another family, that counted as surviving Act 1. Afterward, one immediately entered Act 2.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍system gave a congratulatory gift to that survivor of Act 1, and that gift was the Survival Perk.

‘So ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the day when I receive this really does come.’

When ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had first become the Youngest Son, nothing but sighs had come out of him. He could not say it aloud, but he had cried a great deal too, because he had been afraid.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Youngest Son’s body had survived all the way to Act 2, and this gave him a deep feeling on a personal level as well.

‘Among the players of The Five Families, I have become the one who kept the youngest son of Millesdusk alive the longest.’

He smiled bitterly and drank the alcohol he had poured. It was the alcohol he had brought from the Imperial Family’s social gathering.

It had been very delicious even then, but drinking it with the moon and the Milky Way as his accompaniment doubled its flavor.

GLUG, GLUG, GLUG—

As he refilled the empty glass, his bloodshot eyes looked at the system window occupying the space before him.

[Three Survival Perks are set based on how the player resolved Act 1.]

[The player may select one of them.]

‘If it is based on the way I resolved it… not a single existing perk comes to mind.’

Letting out a faint breath, he recalled the path he had walked and the karma he had accumulated.

‘I did nothing but bizarre things that strayed far from existing playstyles, all so that I could survive somehow.’

Because that had been the only path by which the Youngest Son character could survive.

Even if there had been another path, the only one he had been able to see at the time was that one.

That meant there was a high chance the Survival Perks he had obtained with existing playable characters would not even show their faces.

‘It cannot be helped. Even if something new appears, it will ultimately become my strength. It is not as though using telepathy as a Millesdusk character right now is normal either.’

He flicked a finger and moved on to the next step.

‘Let us see what it has thrown me.’

The system’s evaluation of the Youngest Son’s playthrough during Act 1. The result of that play, and the symbols that embodied it, appeared as three branching perks.

[1. Dark Orator]

[2. Explosion Maniac]

[3. Skeleton Legion Commander]

Merely scanning the names of the perks made him want another drink.

‘…Every single one of them is unusual.’

For now, one more glass before taking them apart.

GLUG, GLUG, GLUG—

The glass filled with a sound that now even felt familiar. The glass soon emptied again, and he examined the first perk in detail.

――「Dark Orator」――

[Description]

: Your tongue has beguiled countless people with extraordinary speechcraft. Your eloquence, which has surely reached a masterly level, was not limited by race and did not distinguish between circumstances.

Your subtly point-twisting rhetoric, your manner of elevating the other party, and your sweet tone will shine in any moment.

Even if that moment is a battlefield where lives hang in the balance.

[Effects]

: Supreme dignity dwells in the player’s voice. That supreme dignity is comparable to that of an emperor.

: The player will always have some chance of persuasion succeeding, however low.

: If it is a shout released in the player’s own voice, it will reach the ears of everyone within the player’s line of sight.

-The effects of the above perk apply to every ‘skill’ manifested through the voice.

―――――――――――

The moment he saw the description of the Dark Orator perk, the Youngest Son nodded slightly.

‘I did run my mouth a lot.’

But what else was he supposed to do? In a situation where he had no money, no strength, and no talented personnel, all he had was the information of a seasoned veteran.

The solutions he had found within that sea of information had mostly been used to resolve or intensify conflicts with others.

‘Because I had to turn potential future enemies into allies so I could bring down the enemies before me. My mouth always had to be busy.’

It was not a survival method he regretted, and the perk that had resulted from it was not bad either.

‘I will continue to have many conversations with various NPCs from now on, and this perk will prove tremendously useful each time.’

With one flick of a finger, he could gain the dignity of an emperor, and in any situation, he could persuade the other party.

On top of that, the range of his voice had expanded to his line of sight.

‘Since this applies to skills as well, it would be good to combine it with curses that produce effects through sound.’

Dozens of uses and applications had already come to mind.

But what pleased him even more was that two perks like this still remained. The other titles were also ones he could roughly guess the nature of.

――「Explosion Maniac」――

[Description]

: Are your ears all right? Those who faced you say theirs are not. As an expert in explosions, you have handled everything from bombs the size of a finger to bombs the size of an ogre.

The resounding blasts and magnificent explosions seem as though stars have fallen upon the world.

Having fallen deeply for such violent charm, you have begun to like explosions even more.

[Effects]

: The range of explosions increases.

: The attack power of explosions increases.

: The mana consumption of Explosion Sorcery decreases.

――――――――

‘Simple.’

It was an effect that could only be described as intuitive. It used less effort, struck harder, and reached farther. That was the entirety of the effect.

But it was also the essence of everything needed in an offensive skill.

‘This is becoming harder and harder to choose.’

Of course, it was still a pleasant dilemma.

‘It turns out I had three more side dishes besides the stars.’

With a smile that came naturally, he repeated the act of filling and emptying his glass. The alcohol he had brought from the social gathering had already shown its bottom.

Fortunately, he had brought extra alcohol, so the mood was not cut short.

He filled the glass and opened the final perk.

――「Skeleton Legion Commander」――

[Description]

: Your Skeleton Soldiers are already special. Can they become even more special from here? Surprisingly, they can. If it is you, who succeeded in surviving to the end with Skeleton Soldiers that everyone ignores, it is possible.

The rank of your Skeleton Soldiers has risen as high as it can, and until the history of sorcery comes to an end, no Skeleton Soldier sorcerer stronger than you will be found.

Because your Skeleton Soldiers are not one, but a legion.

[Effects]

: Even when Skeleton Soldier Sorcery is used only once, ten additional Skeleton Soldiers are summoned.

―――――――――

The final perk had only one effect, but that one effect was extremely clear.

‘Skeleton Soldiers do not consume much mana, but if this happens, I can reach Skeleton General faster as well, and even chained sorcery will become instantaneous.’

He ran a simulation in his mind. By now, he was already thoroughly familiar with Skeleton Soldier Sorcery.

Rapid reuse was not difficult at all, and reaching hundreds of Skeleton Soldiers would not take long either.

On top of that, if he had enough time, he could cover the area in Exploding Bone Dust.

‘I could even ride around on the Black Ship and bombard the West.’

If that happened, the West would become unusable land, and the hatred accumulated would be no joke, but it was possible.

Now, all of the choices had appeared. All that remained was to choose.

‘Haa. This is difficult.’

He set the empty bottles beside him, rolled the empty glass in his hand, and looked up at the dazzling sky.

It was not as though staring at it would give him an answer, but since he was looking anyway, he lay down completely.

Then he could see more stars and a wider sky without having to tilt his head back until his neck hurt. Unlike his body, which had become more comfortable, his mind turned even more tautly.

‘All of them are things I could steadily use until the ending.’

Speaking was something he did every day, Exploding Bone was his main offensive skill, and Skeleton Soldier was the foundation of the sorcery he possessed.

‘Honestly, system. You do your work disgustingly well. Aside from putting me into this body, there is nothing to criticize.’

He clicked his tongue and shifted the focus of his eyes from the sky to the blue system window.

The three perks waiting to be chosen also took the Milky Way as their backdrop in accordance with the player’s field of vision.

Behind those translucent system windows lay the Milky Way, the stars, and the full moon.

Yet strangely enough, the full moon pointed precisely to one of the three choices.

Was this coincidence, or fate? Would it be more correct to call it revelation?

‘Yes. This is it.’

With a certain conviction, he chose the option where the full moon had stopped.

The Survival Perk was fixed in place, unable to be changed any longer, and it would become a new strength for the journey ahead.

“It is a good night.”

He said that without thinking.

[Are you done wallowing in sentiment?]

And so Enad answered.

[You shut your mouth and did nothing but pour alcohol into yourself alone, and now you are lying down.]

“Yes. I am going to sleep here tonight.”

[Would you look at that.]

“I mean it.”

[Do not blame me if the wind sweeps you away and drops you all the way to the ground.]

“You should care. If I die, you die too.”

[…….]

When Enad fell silent, laughter came out of him. He did not know why, but it simply did.

[…What are you grinning about now, you madman?]

“Is it not good? Being alive.”

[You are drunk.]

“It is hard to live while struggling as though life and death are always on the line, but because I lived like that, I even get to see a sky like this.”

[You are properly drunk. Just sleep.]

With that, Enad stopped speaking. The Youngest Son’s mouth no longer moved either.

After that, the only sounds heard on the deck were the sound of the wind and someone’s soft breathing.

***

“We meet again. I look forward to working with you.”

As the Black Ship left the formation, the clone the Youngest Son had left behind entered the Black Giant Castle.

“Clone Youngest~. Look over there. I made that. Does it not look real?”

“I saw it earlier, and from its sense of weight to its sound, it was indistinguishable from the real thing.”

Near the Black Giant Castle, the Black Ship was moving alongside it.

Naturally, it was a fake Black Ship, and its true identity was an illusion the Fourth Son had created overnight.

“Show it to Youngest too~.”

The illusion, created by fixing a medium for the illusion atop the First Son’s Bone Wyvern, was close to perfect.

The Fourth Son, who had entered Act 2, was like a creature made for practice, and he did not neglect his illusion training either.

His genius for learning and mastering the secret techniques of his maternal family, the Mystics, while also using the Six Paths was not false.

“How does that illusion break?”

The First Son, who had been leaning against the window and looking at the illusion of the Black Ship, asked casually.

“If the medium breaks, the illusion breaks too~. Unless they hit that medium, every attack will pass through it like a ghost.”

“Then we should conceal as much as possible that the Black Ship is fake.”

“The Second Daughter is correct.”

The Clone Son nodded and continued.

“So the Black Ship will be placed as far back as possible, and I will pretend to be standing on the Black Ship while mounted on my Griffin.”

“Then the enemies will only look at you~?”

“That is what I want.”

The First Son received the Clone Son’s answer.

“If the enemies’ attention is focused on the Youngest, all we need to do is block only that. Our objective was to buy time from the beginning. Do not forget that.”

“Tch. Acting so high and mighty~. I know that too.”

“Good. With that level of intelligence, you will not have your neck cut by the magic of those half-witted clever fools.”

“Haha. Do you want to die?”

Clap, clap.

Before another fight could break out, the Clone Son clapped his hands and intervened.

“You will be able to unleash that fighting spirit to your heart’s content tomorrow. Seeing as they are not even launching probing attacks, Wisdom seems to have invested everything into defense.”

“We have the Bone Dragon. And did you not say that the Fire Dragon has also crossed over to the castle?”

“That is correct. Lord Kairos will stop Wisdom’s dragon.”

“Good, good~. If those lizards are removed, the difficulty will drop much lower.”

“What about the Dark Elixir?”

At the Second Daughter’s question, the Clone Son took out spatial rings from his Spatial Artifact.

He had prepared enough spatial storage for the number of blood relatives and handed one to each person.

The expressions of the blood relatives who opened them were all the same.

“Waa~. Is it my birthday today?”

“This is good. No, it is very good.”

“There will be no need to worry about dying.”

Inside the spatial storage that the Clone Son handed out was the 2nd process Dark Elixir prepared by the main body.

It was an amount large enough that one could drown in it, but by tomorrow, it might be empty.

Because tomorrow, they would have to paint the world, and the West, truly red.

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