Ding! Second comes Victor Lindeberg. We saw you leading your party with great efficiency, maximizing their abilities without overextending yourselves. You aimed attacks that saved the lives of the sons and daughters of great urmatian nobles. Without the heads, this campaign would quickly fall apart. Your grace in accomplishing [Junior Guardian Angels] quest is without reproach and is deserving of recognition.

Bonus experience rewarded. Extra loot rewarded. +15 Poise permanently granted.

Leveling up from Lvl 23 to Lvl 26, Victor scoffed at his placement coming second. He didn’t like the idea that someone cowering behind the walls was announced along with him. He wondered why he only received +15 Poise? That was 5 less than the supporting hero, which aggravated Victor.

He also had a strong inkling of who was going to have the final placement announced. At this point, Victor did all he could to ignore the system’s blabbering.

He was among very respectable company right now.

Elven sons and daughters of high blood, some of which cousins of the princess, wined and dined around him on the top deck of Princess Siofra’s ship. A ceiling of leaves with giant fronds concealed them from everyone else celebrating on their ships.

Sprites flitted around, glowing brightly to illuminate the area. Delicate music strummed from lyres filled the air. And sitting across from Victor was the princess herself, seventh from the throne of the elven capital somewhere across the urmatian seas.

Pale skin. Violet eyes. Sharp ears. And long straight golden hair. Her gown was made of vines with openings that exposed certain parts of her. And there was a good amount to see since she was a tall and buxom elf. Victor saw the vines peel away from her foot as she pinched the front of his pants leg under the table. She tugged at him playfully.

Regardless of his less than stellar stat acquisition, the princess looked very pleased with him.

“The gods favor you, hero Victor.” Her smile was as dazzling as stars in the night sky. With a glance, she brought their attention to the loot trunk that appeared beside their table. “It is an honor to be in your presence. I wouldn’t have this chance if you didn’t save me while I was deep into the enemy’s side.”

“It seemed to me you were handling yourself quite well, milady. My assistance was a minor thing.”

“Your humility is almost as striking as your abilities, which is welcoming in a hero.” She tugged at him a little harder. “I’m sure you’ll do well in the capital at my side. Everyone will find us as an amazing sight.”

Victor smiled politely. It was almost convenient how she’d completely brushed aside the accusations about his thievery. Once they left the battlefield, she created a story for everyone to hear.

The other heroes were jealous of Victor and wanted to smear his accomplishments, she had said. And how could they be trusted when they were friends with a saurian, she had added.

Victor knew her type. She was excellent to have at his side for now. But if there was ever a moment that he fell from grace and seemed more trouble than he was worth, she would toss him to the side instantly. It was typical with these types.

He had merely smiled and let her do all the talking, creating stories that he didn’t refute.

Siofra tugged at his pants leg again and again. “It’s a shame that your detractor will slither into a place he doesn’t belong. Despite your humility, I know you must be wounded deep down. If your pride requires healing… I can… help.”

The princess struggled to speak further, using a hand to cover her blushing face.

Victor sighed internally. “To have your help will be more than I can ever wish for, milady. I gladly accept.”

Her ears perked up as her blush grew.

Meanwhile, Victor glanced over to the two numbskulls of his party. They were making a fool of themselves. A gathering of lesser elves circled Sasha as she retold her heroics at the battle. As she prattled and roared with laughter, she downed glass after glass of elven ale.

Her brother stood to the side and allowed her to make a complete fool of herself. Dimitri stood about like a statue throughout. No matter who talked to him, he spoke not a word until they faded away from him.

Despite this, a part of Victor wanted to be with his idiotic companions. The urge to berate them instead of being here entertaining the princess was there.

He had a role to play, though. He would prefer to stick to it.

***

Ding! Last but not least, we have the hero who’s making a name for himself already. John Wright, or John the Brawler. Your part in this battle was a pivotal one. You’ve fought and defeated two Rank 3 monsters on your own. You’ve led the urmatian defenders from the front. The number of monsters you’ve killed compared to the length of time you’ve fought is the highest among urmatians and heroes in the battle. You’ve fought so hard you’ve outdone magic casters, which is a hard feat to pull off.

[The Cavalry Has Arrived I] quest is thoroughly conquered by your actions.

Any of these feats alone would have you recognized, but what truly impresses the gods was your ability to carry the weight of despair on your shoulders and fight through the terror spread by our enemies. Your soul blazed against the mist and darkness. Against the undead army that seemed relentless. Your soul blazed and ignited the spirit of the defenders, winning the battle. Your accomplishment here exemplifies what we seek in heroes, and we are eager to watch you grow further, brawler.

Bonus experience rewarded. Top extra bonus loot rewarded. + 40 Soul permanently gained.

Now let the celebrations commence. And remember heroes, give prayer and tribute to Dolala. Do so before or after if you are not yet ready to raise children.

Something inside of John expanded as he leveled up from Lvl 27 to Lvl 29. The feeling was powerful, happy, and grounded. It was warm, too, filling his body with a pleasurable heat.

When he looked at his interface, he saw his [Soul] had nearly doubled in size. It was an incredible sight to take in, and it raised his mood even after the interruption.

A heavy thunk sounded from the middle of the room. It was probably the loot. But John was preoccupied at the moment.

While he was on his knees, Noname laid on her back in front of him. She was watching him closely. A long period passed with nothing happening until Noname started to shift away.

She got as far as the edge of the bed before John grasped her arm. He turned her around and pulled her into him. Her hair swept over his arm as her by the waist.

“We’ve just met,” John said. “I don’t really know you deep down. So, I can’t tell you I love you. I can’t tell you I’m going to be there for you always. I can’t make any of those promises that my exes made me say.”

He cinched his hold around her a little tighter, pressing her all the way against him. She didn’t push away. She squeezed tighter, her hands tracing up his chest. Her eyes looked at him with wonder.

“If we’re doing this,” John said, “this isn’t out of love, okay?”

I gotta make this clear now.

“Okay.” Noname tapped her finger against his chin. “I told you when we met I want to exploit you. It means the more successful you become, the better things get for me. And I can see that happening as friends.”

“Really?” John asked, a little shocked. Most of the time, he could never continue a friendship when he got intimate with someone like this. Things got… muddled.

His surprise allowed Noname to reverse the situation. Her leg wound behind his own, and she swept him off his feet. She overcame his greater strength with agile technique and mounted him. Her skills as an assassin were put on display.

John looked up and found a face surrounded by a curtain of dark locks. He found eyes that gleamed with mirth.

She bit the edge of her lip.

His blood boiled hotter.

“Really, really,” Noname said. “You have a shine to you that’s greater than anything I’ve seen in the old world. Not because of magic, or anything. Just because of who you are.”

She leaned down, her smile growing. Her hair pooled all around his head. Her eyes had a spark to them that was more alluring than he’d seen from her. Like polished silver.

“So, in return, you can exploit me as much as you want,” she said. “We’ll exploit each other mutually. But beware, you’ll probably be the first to fall in love, which is fine if that’s what you want.”

Color him curious, John wondered how she could make him fall in love. Noname was cute, and all. She was dangerous, too. It made his last ex come to mind. But the new permanent gain to his [Soul] made him want to brave the risk anyway. Especially with friendship staying on the table.

His hands clasped around her thighs. For an athletic girl like her, they felt soft. Warm and smooth, too.

She sighed pleasurably.

“So, you’re okay with just this, exploiting each other as we grow as friends,” John said, using her own words.

She nodded.

“Is this the real you?” he asked.

“An assassin must wear multiple faces.” She glanced away and back. “But all my faces are me. And…”

“And?”

“Me in the streets keeps it separate from me in the sheets.”

“Ah.”

John decided not to press further. She wasn’t a bad person, he figured. He didn’t quite understand how he knew, but he felt Noname wasn’t a danger to him. She was quirky. Weird. She was probably a girl with layers you had to peel back carefully.

What he did know so far was that in her wish to exploit him, she would devotedly support him. And they could remain friends.

“You’re a weirdo,” John said, cracking a smile. “I guess I’m into that now.”

She kissed him. The moment their lips touched, it was like igniting spilled oil. The flames spread everywhere and quickly. It consumed every part of John as he meshed his face against Noname’s.

She smacked against his arm until he stopped.

“Huh, what?” John said, a little breathless. The room was wobbling around them. Everything tilted beyond the image that was Noname sitting on top of him.

“It hurts when you squeeze my thighs like that,” she said, panting.

John removed his hands and saw red marks. “Shit.”

“We need to learn how to control our attributes,” she said. “But for now, let me take over. I’ll make it a perfect night for John the Brawler.”

A sly smile crossed her face.

John smiled back, his heart hammering. He wondered what an assassin girl could do despite how scary her background made her sound.

“Show me what you go,” he challenged.

She showed him.

She shattered every experience John had with women, setting a new bar.

The lingering thoughts of his ex died tonight. Noname assassinated her from John’s mind.

***

John Wright, Lvl 29

Race: Outerhuman, Rank 2

Weapon Art: Cestus Art, Lvl 29 (maxed)

Blessing: One Good Punch, Rank 2

Total AP: 424

Resilience: 79 + (20)

Endurance: 64

Strength: 84

Agility: 46

Perception: 20

Poise: 38

Intellect: 25

Soul: 96

Unspent: 16

Talents: [Relentless Fighter, Rank 1], [Decisive Spirit, Rank 1], [Identify, Rank 2], [Urmatia Linguistics, Rank 1], [Inner Compass, Rank 1].

Weapon Skills: [Advance Boxing, Rank 3], [Rabid Blows, Rank 2], [Dash Step, Rank 2], [Concussive Strike, Rank 2].

Magic Cores: [Ratel Rookie, MCP 25], [Brightlight Orb, MCP 2].

MCP: 2