Chapter 7: The Cursed

Meanwhile, in the dark forest, Warren and Noir are searching for the Prince.

Of course, as Noir cannot see Warren, they searched separately.

While Noir searches normally around the said area where the Prince’s carriage was attacked, Warren travels freely in the [Monochrome World] where he can walk anywhere as he pleases.

Though it is night time hence, there’s no sun light, Warren still chose to search in that world because in there, he can even fly unlike in the real world where he is bound to the earth like normal.

Also, materializing in the real world costs mana as well and it also tires him out somewhat.

In any case, there has been no success in finding the Prince for a while now.

[“…Looks like we’ll have to give up soon. The Prince is most likely dead already…”]

Sighing as he floats in the skies of the [Monochrome World], he decided to survey the surroundings one more time.

When Noir asked around earlier to gather information, they found out that only the ring of royalty was found on the scene along with the dead bodies of the escorts and a broken carriage so they were a bit optimistic since the body of the Prince was never found.

But after hours of searching, they can’t help but think of the worse.

It might be possible that the Prince was reduced to ashes or was buried for some reason.

[“I wonder how’s Lucas and Freya doing?...Hm?”]

Just when Warren was about to relax, he found a source of light below aside from Noir’s.

[“T-this is-!?”]

Surprised by what he saw, he decided to call Noir however…he cannot see nor hear him.

[“Hmmm…now, as for how to tell Noir. Ah…I just have to direct him there.”]

+ + +

“Ughh…this has been going for hours already…why am I searching for a dead person anyway?”

Noir sat on a rock in a small clearing in the forest while muttering.

A few hours ago, while the auction has been going on, he kept hearing things like how the White Haired Adventurer is in town or that he became a criminal.

Whatever the case, because of that, the credibility that his auction items are the real deal went up.

He even heard that some mistook [Noir] as the White Haired Adventurer’s name. Which Noir can’t help but be embarrassed.

After the auction ended, Lucas called him and he asked some questions.

He was surprised to hear that he didn’t receive any quests that made him help the slave. After all, if there isn’t a quest, then there’s no reward.

That’s the basics in games.

When you receive a quest, that’s the only time you help.

But he didn’t.

Right now, he’s helping the slave out of his own free will.

Noir admired that and decided that he’ll help out if needed.

Just when he was about to ask if there’s anything he can help with, Lucas asked him a favor.

[[Learn everything you can about the Prince’s death, the road he traveled, who killed him, and if possible, find out if he’s still alive.]]

Noir wondered what the point of all this is.

After all, everybody said he’s dead.

In games, the NPCs are never wrong.

They are the source of information.

True, one of them might give false information. But at this point, everyone’s saying he’s dead so he has to be.

“Huh? Why?”

So he asked.

However, the next words Lucas uttered were beyond his expectations.

[[…Because I might kill the King, and this city needs a new ruler.]]

“…E-Eh? W-wait, did I hear that rig-”

Wanting to confirm what he heard, Noir immediately asked but was cut off.

The call had ended leaving Noir who still cannot believe what Lucas said.

Normally, one would definitely label Lucas as a criminal to have said those words but…somehow, he feels different.

He feels it.

That the world has begun to shift.

That something big is about to happen.

And Lucas is at the very center of it.

He felt excited.

He wanted to be a part of this as well so he began to ask for informations.

After hours of searching informations, he finally found out that there was no body found.

Naturally he became optimistic and immediately went to search.

Since he was a [Peddler] and a [Magician], the monsters aren’t that much of a problem.

Though he’s weak for a magician, the monsters around this area are easy to deal with, that’s why this is the popular route to travel to the next city.

By the way, [Peddler] is the second job after finishing [Vendor] and after that is the third job [Merchant].

Anyway, after hours of searching, there is still no body found.

Thinking that, Noir can only sigh again.

Then, all of a sudden, a red flash was seen in the corner of his vision accompanied with the sound of something hitting a tree.

Thinking it was unnatural, Noir decided to see what it was.

After reaching the tree that was hit, another red flash was seen further into the forest.

Though Noir felt that following would be dangerous. He also can’t help but think that he needs to follow it.

It continued like that for a while and Noir deduced that there is someone or something, out there that is leading him somewhere but he never let down his guard.

This is Warren’s way of directing Noir.

His only offensive magic [Red Lightning], a ball of lightning the size of a fist.

Though an offensive magic, it has almost nil damage. At most, it can only fend off or annoy people. But at least, it can produce a sound when hit and has a rather showy appearance so Warren decided to make use of it like this.

Of course Noir didn’t know any of this, much less, anything about Warren at all.

After a while, Noir found himself back at the area where the carriage was last seen, the place where the ambush happened.

Not only that, but there was someone else there.

“!? Who goes there!? Show yourself!”

+ + +

“Nnn….nngghhhh…”

Lucas groaned as he open his heavy eyelids.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Ah, you finally woke up.”

Turning his head slightly, he can see a beautiful woman with silver hair and red droopy eyes.

“…Hn? What…is this heaven Ms. Angel?”

While half-asleep, Lucas inadvertently muttered.

“A-angel!? I-I-I-I’m not…!!!”

“Ah…What, it’s just Freya…”

“W-why did you suddenly sound disappointed!?”

Sure enough, the silver haired beauty from before was actually Freya Lytton, the vampire Princess.

Lucas prompted himself up and sat on the bed he was on.

“Ah, how are you feeling?”

“Ughh…I’m fine, my body just feels heavy...anyway, where are we?”

Lucas asked as he looked around.

From what he can see, it seems like he’s in some kind of clinic but was decorated with crosses and statues of angels.

“We’re inside the church. I already explained everything to sir Arch-bishop.”

“Is that so…hn? What happened to the Black Hand assassin?”

“A-ahh…that…”

“?”

Freya fidgeted as if asking herself whether to tell him or not.

“T-the truth is…”

And so she began her story.

After listening to it, Lucas can’t help but sigh.

“Again huh?...”

Though vague, Lucas remembers that this happened before as well, it was when he was inside Denneth with a knife planted in his skull.

That time, he was also unconscious when he killed the demi-vampire.

However, as he saw in the movie, the same incident happened.

“I think my [Rage] is about 1000 or more that time. This time it was only around 500…Does that mean that by exceeding 500 I lose control?”

In short, exceeding 500 corrupts the mind…will there be another stage to this or will it remain that way?

Lucas can’t help but think that.

“Oh? I see you have awoken.”

While Lucas is pondering on himself, a person wearing white robe along with a tall hat with golden linings and wearing a golden cross necklace walked in the room.

“Good morning, I am Arch-bishop Agerad. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“A-ah, un. I am called Lucas, thank you for taking care of me.”

A bit taken aback by the sudden polite introduction, Lucas was able to introduce himself properly.

“Now then, sir Lucas. Please rest some more, you’ve earned it.”

“A-ahh, thank you…By the way, what happened to that tras- the King?”

Lucas immediately corrected himself from saying trash because despite trash being trash, Lucas figured he shouldn’t name-call people in front of the Arch-bishop.

“Ah, you do not need worry about that, sir Fawkes was able to apprehend him despite his mortal wound before the tras- the King managed to escape.”

“Trash! You definitely just said trash oi! You’re supposed to be the Arch-bishop!!!”

Lucas tsukkomied in his head since he can’t really say it out loud as it will be rude.

Well, trash is trash anyway.

To this, Freya on the side cannot help but wear a wry smile and Lucas can only sigh.

“…What of the people’s reaction?”

“That is…please look out of the window.”

The Arch-bishop let out a troubled smile and gestured his hand to one of the windows.

As the room was placed on the second floor, the view Lucas saw was from the above, meaning, he has a wide view below.

“W-what the hell is this?”

Though it was probably bad manner to say that phrase in a church and in front of an Arch-bishop at that, Lucas no longer cared and can only be openly shocked.

Why? Because outside, countless people are standing as if waiting for something.

You can barely see any place that isn’t covered with people.

Some even went as far as being on top of the roofs.

“After 30 minutes, if the Prince is not yet found, then we will have to announce the news before this gets more troublesome.”

“I see…so you haven’t told the people huh?”

“Yes, I fear that a civil war may start the moment we announce the trash is a criminal.”

“Now you didn’t even correct yourself!!!???”

Again, Lucas can’t help but retort in his mind.

Surely, this is not how Lucas viewed the Arch-bishop to be.

Well, trash is trash.

“But we cannot keep it a secret for too long, so please ready yourself in 30 minutes.”

“E-eh? O-oh, sure…”

At first, Lucas thought why but thought that he might be needed since he and Freya were the ones that did get the proof so he nodded.

“Well then…”

When the Arch-bishop left, Lucas relaxed his back on the wall and sat on top of the bed.

First, he decided to open his status to allocate the stat points from levelling up after killing the assassin.

NameLucasLevel6GenderMaleMoney10 G 54 S 50 CJobWanderer LVL 16

Painter LVL 13RaceHumanHealth1240Mana1150STR160INT120SPD155DEX110VIT128LUK222TitleLight Hero shrouded by DarknessFame1270Charisma1000Art Sense18Rage0Fire12Water11Earth11Wind11Light11Dark11Passive Skills[Play Dead] Beginner LVL 6(12.23%)

[Dragon Eyes] Beginner LVL 9(32.12%)

[One Foot Walk] Beginner LVL 9 (12.35%)

[Mouth Mastery] Beginner LVL 7 (28.11%)

[Photographic Memory] Beginner LVL 8 (14.34%)

[Art Appraisal] Beginner LVL 4 (21.12%)

[Potion Appraisal] Beginner LVL 3 (45.65%)

[Herb Appraisal] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Wood Appraisal] Beginner LVL 4 (21.12%)

[Ore Appraisal] Beginner LVL 9 (34.12%)

[Cloth Appraisal] Beginner LVL 8 (39.41%)

[Metallurgy Appraisal] Intermediate LVL 5 (45.35%)

[Item Appraisal] Intermediate LVL 3 (3.74%)

[Ingredient Appraisal] Beginner LVL 2 (75.25%)

[Food Appraisal] Beginner LVL 3 (52.45%)

[Trap Appraisal] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Enemy Appraisal] Intermediate LVL 1 (45.35%)

[Magic Appraisal] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Staff Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Gun Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Bow Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Gauntlet Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Katar Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Dagger Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Whip Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Spear Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Mace Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Warhammer Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Axe Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Two-hand Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Dominant Arm Mastery] Beginner LVL 5 (12.32%)

[Weak Arm Mastery] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Sword Mastery] Beginner LVL 5 (21.32%)

[Warrior’s Presence] Beginner LVL 3 (45.53%)Active Skills[Bash] Master LVL 10(100.00%)

[Stomp] Master LVL 10(100.00%)

[Dragon’s Wrath] Beginner LVL 9 (32.12%)

[Dragon Claw] Beginner LVL 2 (21.45%)

[Dragon Roar] Beginner LVL 2 (45.35%)

[Color Picker] Beginner LVL 8 (53.12%)

[Color Mix] Beginner LVL 8 (97.52%)

[Fotiá] Beginner LVL 3 (37.14%)

[Neró] Beginner LVL 2 (82.45%)

[Gi̱] Beginner LVL 2 (82.45%)

[Mien] Beginner LVL 2 (82.45%)

[Fo̱s] Beginner LVL 2 (82.45%)

[Skotádi] Beginner LVL 2 (82.45%)

[Metallurgy Repair] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Cloth Repair] Beginner LVL 1 (0.00%)

[Hide Presence] Beginner LVL 3 (57.45%)PopularityPure-blooded Vampires +1000

“W-what the…”

After allocating the status points, Lucas was surprised.

Unlike before, there is now a title on his status window.

“Light Hero shrouded by Darkness? Eh? Huh? Since when?...And why so contradicting?”

Lucas has no idea when he was given such a weird title but he was sure that he didn’t have this before sneaking into the palace.

“Did that Arch-bishop do anything to me when I was unconscious? Or did I somehow unlock all the requirements for this?”

Though plenty of ideas came to mind, there was no way of telling which the real reason is.

In the end, he can only sigh.

Light Hero shrouded by Darkness“The Hero shrouded in Darkness bearing the name of Light”

“…What?”

When he clicked the title to see the information, all he got was some kind of quote.

“So having the name Lucas would be one of the requirements? That’s too much…”

Lucas, in latin, lux, meaning ‘light’.

So by not having a name synonymous to light, it means you cannot attain this title no matter how much you try.

Again, Lucas sighed.

“In any case, after escorting Freya back, I can finally start my journey.”

Lucas started to plan out the things that he needed to do after this when he noticed Freya’s stare.

“Wh-what is it?”

“E-eh? N-no, it’s nothing…”

An awkward silence filled the room.

“…U-umm…that is…”

“Y-you don’t have to force it if you don’t want to.”

“T-thank you very much!!!”

“A-ahh…you’re welcome…”

Even though it was Lucas that said not to say it if she didn’t want to, somehow, Lucas still felt hurt to hear that she really didn’t want to talk to him.

When he looked at Freya’s face again, Lucas noticed that she began dropping tears.

“Uuuu… to even cry…so she didn’t want to talk to me that much!? Why!? What did I do to be so hated!!!???”

Being depressed, Lucas began to draw circles with his finger on the ground while hugging his knees.

For a while, the situation in the room remained that way until the Arch-bishop finally went back.

“Excuse me, since the Prince is yet to be found and we can’t keep this secret forever, we would have to annou-…”

Having finally notice the room’s awkward atmosphere, even the Arch-bishop froze.

“W-what seems to be the problem?”

“Hm?”

“…It’s nothing…I’ll get ready…”

While the Arch-bishop was confused and Freya tilting her head wondering what happened, Lucas listlessly picked himself up and began walking outside.

+ + +

Outside, the crowd began to grow bored.

They have been waiting outside of the church starting midnight.

It has been 6 hours since and there is still no news.

To the NPCs, this was a lot of wasted time and most of them had already went back to sleep or work.

For the players however, 6 hours isn’t much since they don’t sleep much in game and that they know that this is some unique event that won’t be shown again nor will it show in any place.

But the players aren’t only composed of people who just play. There are also players that are from a gaming network hoping to show this event live.

Finally, the doors of the church opened.

“Finally!”

“It’s here!”

“Quick! Log out and inform the studio! We go live!”

Standing there was the Arch-bishop Agerad, the White Haired Adventurer, and the slave, whom now wore a white hooded robe and now able to see her face.

Behind them were a number of priests in the church.

The church was in an elevated position, and the city guards prevented anyone from going up.

This way, they wouldn’t be too crowded when they show themselves.

“Whoaa”

“Ughhh!!! To think I tried to kill such a beauty!!!”

“Hah! Serves you right! Told you siding with them is the right choice!”

And such noises can be heard from them.

Some even began narrating with their back turned facing nothing as if they’re in front of a camera.

“Everyone, I am deeply sorry for making you wait for such a long time. There are certain things that needed to be ascertained.”

Speaking through a magic item that amplifies sound like a microphone, the Arch-bishop began talking and the crowd quieted down.

“Now, I’m sure you all are curious of the situation and wanted to hear the news quickly so I shall cut to the chase.”

Just this alone made the crowd gulp down their saliva for being tense.

“The King has betrayed his own kingdom by killing his wife the Queen and his stepson the Prince!”

The crowd cannot believe what the Arch-bishop had just said.

Especially the NPCs.

For the players, they murmured to themselves and began talking how and why it happened seemingly excited.

Next, a red haired knight brought a person bound in chains out of the church, showing him to everyone.

On closer look, the red haired knight is known to some people who have seen him personally, Fawkes of the Phoenix and the person in chains is the King.

It would seem that even the White Haired Adventurer was also surprised but he wasn’t really noticed by everyone.

And thus, the Arch-bishop told them of everything that has happened.

About how the King tried to buy the slave and how she escaped.

About how he hired a Black Hand assassin to kill the Queen and the Prince and showed the contract found by the White Haired Adventurer and the slave.

Eventually, everyone seemed to have accepted it and some worry of what will happen in the future.

They know that branding him as a criminal means that the entire royal family would be gone and will most likely start a civil war.

While the NPCs worry about getting caught up in the fight of the nobles, the players got even more excited.

Talking about which side to side and who’s more likely to win.

They wanted to get on their good side so that when they become King, they would receive favors from him.

But, it would seem that the King, now ex-King, has not given up his unsightly resistance.

“Lies! Everyone! This is the work of that brat’s brainwashing! Those contracts are forged! I would never harm my wife and my stepson!”

+ + +

“Haah…this guy never give up…”

Lucas can only sigh at the trash who kept making excuses even though the proof is as clear as day.

“Everyone! Please! Believe in this King of yours!”

“Shut up.”

A tone colder than expected came out of Lucas mouth and made the crowd and the trash silent.

Calming himself down, Lucas inhaled deeply.

“As explained by sir Arch-bishop Agerad, the contract with the Black Hand seal is impossible to forge. If you’re still unsatisfied, we could even do a blood test and see whether the blood matches.”

“W-wha-!? Lies! There is no such artifact like that!”

As expected, not only the trash King but everyone was confused.

After all, Lucas was talking about things from his world.

Seeing as this might be a good chance, he wanted to let everyone know his condition as it might cause problems in the future if not known. And also because he felt weird not actually telling anyone about it.

“In this world yes, there is probably no such thing. However, I am not from this world and in our world, there exists a convenient tool like that.”

To his words, everyone became even more surprised.

The NPCs regarded the players as special beings that have a unique spell called [Log Out] which makes their bodies disappear.

They have no idea where they went of course, they only treated it as normal for them.

Now being told that Lucas was from a different world, most of them probably thought that it was connected to the [Log Out] spell.

As for the players, they just cannot believe he would say something like that so naturally.

They really had no reason to hide it, but they also had no reason to say it. So they can’t help but think he’s up to something.

Not only that, but taking items out into the real world. As expected, they’re confused and thought that he may be just bluffing.

Though, that thought was easily shattered at Lucas’ next action.

“What you don’t believe it? Fine, see this? It’s called [Cellphone], we use this to call others far away or send messages but I mostly use it to play games.”

As he said that, he revealed a rectangular glossy black box which was very familiar to the players and showed a certain game app on it.

To this, all players were wide eyed and jaw dropped at seeing that object.

“Hm…It’s a good thing I placed my cellphone in the inventory before.”

Lucas only placed it there so he can play games whenever he will get bored or has nothing to do in this world.

Though because of the series of events, he never got to do it.

In any case, with this, he’s sure that he was able to get across that he is not a denizen of this world.

“Interesting…there are pictures moving here…and there seems to be interaction if you touch it too…”

Before he knew it, the Arch-bishop had already taken the cellphone from his hand and began fiddling with it.

“Ghhh…to take things without permission, are you seriously an Arch-bishop!?”

Lucas retorted in his mind since he feels that this is not the place where he should say such things.

“Can I keep it?”

“No!”

In the end, Lucas still ended shouting at the Arch-bishop.

Though Lucas stiffened up because of that careless remark and prepared himself for the worse, it didn’t come. Rather, the Arch-bishop only revealed a sad face slightly tearing up and backed away.

“A-anyway! There is still a better option if you want to know whether the contract is real or not.”

“G-gh!”

Perhaps the trash realized what Lucas meant, he trembled in fear.

“If this is real, then if I tear it, you will be cursed.”

“N-no! Please! Anything but that!”

“Then confess. Confess to your own people how much of a trash you are.”

“N-ngggg-!!!!”

Even after being threatened to be cursed, he still doesn’t want to confess.

For a trash, he’s very stubborn.

Thinking that, Lucas didn’t say any more and silently tore all of the contracts.

“G-ga-….GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Immediately afterwards, the trash King’s body turned purple, his eyeballs melted, his voice went coarse, countless wrinkles appeared on his face, lastly, his body deformed into that of a monster.

Rather, he’s already a monster.

[The Cursed]

They are monsters that walk around seeking revenge and destruction to other’s happiness.

Normally, it would stop at turning into purple and have their voice went coarse but, since Lucas tore multiple contract at the same time, the burden in his body was great and deformed his body.

“…Do we kill him?”

“No, that would be too generous. He will be excommunicated from [Drachedge].”

When Lucas asked whether he should kill him now that he became a monster, the Arch-bishop said something scary.

“…I don’t know whether he is good or not…”

Once again, Lucas sighed.

Since it has been decided to excommunicate him, they strapped him on one of the catapults and fired.

You may think this is overkill but [The Cursed] cannot be killed like this.

To kill one, you would need silver in order to damage it.

“You brat! I’ll make you regret this! Mark my words! I will definitely get my reveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenge!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Or so he shouted when he was launched into the air.

In any case, they decided to move on.

“Now then, as you are all aware. Now that there are no one left in the royal family to take the throne, nobles will start to fight for it soon. So I propose a solution.”

Saying that, the Arch-bishop patted Lucas on the back while pushing him forward.

“This here is the Hero from the prophecy, his name is Lucas.”

Finally hearing the White Haired Adventurer’s name, the players were all excited.

However, to Lucas, he was confused.

“Eh? Prophecy? What’s he talking about?”

But still, his next words shook not only Lucas, but everyone present.

“I nominate him King!”

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Author's Notes

Changed [Monotone World] to [Monochrome World].....didn't think there was a difference.....sigh........owell, what's done is done.

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