I could see Alex’s back as he ran off into the distance.
I deliberately kept some space between us as I followed.
With the end right in front of me, I needed time to sort out my thoughts.
‘If this keeps up, the Hidden Piece is going to fail.’
As I said before, clearing a Hidden Piece can be broadly divided into three parts.
The story, the battle, and preparing for what comes afterward.
The problem right now was the last one. I hadn’t prepared at all for what came afterward.
No, to be precise, I had managed to deal with the most urgent issue just now.
‘The bishop finding out Teron made a contract with a Demon. I’ve got a countermeasure for that.’
But I was still lacking preparation for everything else.
In particular, I had no way to stop Duke Zeppelin from killing Daike.
‘I need information.’
The reason Daike, who should have died at the age of ten, had survived.
The deal those two had made with Duke Zeppelin.
I needed to know those things so I could prepare for the story’s later developments and save Daike from death.
Now that the story had entered its climax, there was no way to obtain that information.
Or so I had thought.
Until I remembered “that,” the special privilege granted only to someone who had possessed a character in this world.
[For the Sake of Clearing]
-You have satisfied a special condition and been invited into the game.
Because you know too much about the game, a penalty will be applied.
Penalty: Hidden bosses will appear.
When the protagonist’s party enters each episode boss room, a portal leading to a hidden boss room will open.
Inside the portal is a hidden boss stronger than the original boss.
(The hidden boss’s abilities can be checked through the Information Window.)
(This does not apply to the final boss, which you have never cleared before.)
The first and final quest I received when I entered the game.
The rule I, as someone who had possessed a character, absolutely had to follow.
And a privilege as well.
There was one secret hidden within that privilege.
‘It lets me uncover hidden parts of the story.’
A hidden boss is a clone of the original boss.
Of course it would share the original character’s memories. No, in the first place, the clone believes itself to be the real one.
That meant I could use the clone’s mouth to find out what happened in the past or ask about things I wanted to know.
‘Lérang, the first boss, was like that, so I’m sure of it.’
Most of it was information I already knew, but there had been a few things I didn’t know.
The representative example was the story related to the Lester family.
‘I’ll get the information from Teron’s clone and prepare for what comes next.’
You could call it a kind of loophole using the traits of someone who had possessed a character.
While I was sorting out my thoughts, two people came into view at the bottom of the hill.
Alex and Teron.
“What happened to Daike?”
“He’s playing with the others. It looked a little rough, though. How about stopping them before someone gets hurt?”
“Rejected. And I doubt he’s the only one playing rough.”
“…You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I’ve always been serious. Unlike someone I know.”
Mm. A conversation I’d heard countless times.
Teron’s first phase had to be faced by Alex alone.
That meant no one could help him.
So I decided to focus on my own job.
Using the spot where Alex and Teron stood as the center, I drew a large circle around them and searched through the forest.
And soon enough.
‘Found it.’
I discovered the portal.
After checking my condition and equipment, I stood in front of it.
“…”
To be honest, I wasn’t sure this plan would work. Teron was not exactly the type to run his mouth.
But.
‘I’ll just charge in and see what happens.’
That was the strategy for this episode, and also its lesson.
Shrrrrk-.
The moment I threw myself into the portal, the space around me changed.
It was the clearing where Alex and Teron had been just moments ago.
Naturally, Alex wasn’t there. This was a different space.
Maybe it was because I had appeared out of nowhere, but Teron, who had been fully immersed in the mood, flinched.
The first words out of Teron’s clone were,
“What happened to Daike?”
It was about Daike.
“He’s playing nicely with my companions.”
“You have quite a lot of faith in them.”
“Keke, doesn’t the same go for you, Teron?”
“…Daike won’t lose. He always obeys my orders. More importantly, where is Alex? I’m fairly certain I told you to send him in. Is this a surprise attack?”
Teron looked around.
I hid my prickling guilt and started thinking. An excuse came to mind without much difficulty.
“Well… a Demon grabbed him by the ankle, you see. For something without a physical body, it certainly knew how to make itself a nuisance. For now, Alex agreed to handle it, and I was sent ahead first.”
“You didn’t just dump it on Alex?”
“Keke, it was simply better for everyone that way. For me, for Alex, and for you as well, Teron.”
“I see. So you knew. You knew I made a contract with a Demon.”
Teron’s eyes glimmered coldly.
To pick up on that from such a simple conversation. As expected, this kid’s instincts were terrifying.
Well, I had nudged him there on purpose.
“How did you find out?”
“Keke, I’ve had plenty of dealings with their kind. Ah, it’s a method only I can use, so you don’t need to worry.”
“You really do have all sorts of tricks. Then and now… you’re a tempting talent.”
Regret, remorse, pity, and resignation.
A complicated mix of emotions settled in Teron’s eyes.
I had a feeling I was looking at Teron with the same eyes.
Of course, the last emotion in mine was not resignation.
‘It’s hope and challenge.’
“More importantly, having Mr. Caron deal with a high-grade Demon wasn’t enough for you, so you even tried to erase the contract itself. As expected of you, Teron.”
“You’re impressive for noticing that much. As expected, you’re capable.”
“I would have turned a blind eye as well, if only you hadn’t made one mistake.”
A secret the Holy Kingdom had not made public.
Those of bishop rank or higher could recognize the “traces” of someone who had made a deal with a Demon.
“Even if you avoided it now, you would have been punished eventually. Given your position, you’re rather likely to meet high-ranking priests.”
“Ah, so that was it. I did think it was strange how contractors were discovered from time to time in unusual cases. I suppose that’s just what the Holy Kingdom is like. They really do have a nasty, shady side.”
“How about turning yourself in?”
The Demon Benumael was going to be dealt with by Caron and Adonis.
The instructor would be injured a little, but no one would die. That part was important.
A confession, the authority of the Vyuern family, and Teron’s status as the practical heir.
Even the Empire would have a hard time handing down a severe punishment.
But the answer that came back was, of course,
“I reject that.”
A refusal. Naturally, the reason was his father, Duke Zeppelin.
“I’d be judged as a weakling who fell for a Demon’s temptation. I can’t allow that. I’ve already lost too many opportunities because of a certain someone.”
“Who on earth is this certain someone? To think they stole your opportunities, Teron. I’ll go and scold them at once.”
“You really are… Sometimes I regret choosing someone so weightless as my rival.”
Teron let out a deep sigh.
To think that someone could make the capable Teron sigh like that. Whoever it was, I’d have to give them a serious scolding later.
“Well, fine. Since you already know, this actually works out.”
Kwooooooo-.
Demonic energy wavered around Teron.
He had released the power of the Demon.
‘Was I included in the terms of the contract too?’
The contract Teron made was a conditional one that allowed him to borrow power only when fighting Alex.
But seeing him use that power against me as well, it seemed I had also been included in the terms.
‘That means the Hidden Piece has activated…’
And it also meant the path I was walking was the correct one.
“There’s no need for any more conversation between us. Come. Let us see the end of this short-lived connection.”
“No, what we need most right now is a conversation. That’s the only way we can save Daike.”
“No matter how much you stall, you can’t avoid the fight. The weak are meat, and the strong do eat. It is time for the law of this world to be realized.”
“Are you planning to let Daike die?”
“…I don’t understand why you keep bringing Daike into our affairs. A hunting dog is precisely the sort of being that lives in the truest world of survival of the fittest. If he dies, then he dies.”
“How ridiculous. Your words and actions don’t match.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re more worried about Daike than anyone else.”
Teron flinched.
That was right. Teron had asked about Daike first. Even the conversation we just had made that obvious.
-What happened to Daike?
-He’s playing with the others. It looked a little rough, though. How about canceling your order before someone gets hurt?
When he met Alex.
And.
-What happened to Daike?
-He’s playing nicely with my companions.
Even the clone of Teron standing before me now.
He was worried about Daike’s safety before anything else.
“Tell me. What kind of deal did you make with Duke Zeppelin? I’ll help you.”
“Money, power, influence. You have none of those things. What exactly do you think you can do?”
“Keke, I’ve managed just fine without them until now. And it’s not as if I have absolutely nothing.”
“…Even if you knew, there would be nothing you could do.”
“You never know. I might come up with some wonderfully bizarre method.”
Teron’s lips twitched slightly, then closed again.
As expected of tight-lipped Teron. Persuading him was not easy.
‘Normally, I would open the way by making a deal…’
My greatest weapons were information and knowledge of the future. But neither of those worked on Teron.
‘Because Teron has no future.’
He was too busy trying to save Daike’s life right now.
Even if I gave him information that would be incredibly useful in the future, whether that future would actually happen could only be determined when the time came.
In other words, giving him future information would not win Duke Zeppelin’s favor.
Ah, what on earth was I supposed to do to persuade him?
Just as I was writhing in agony over it.
Sssk-.
Teron, who had been lost in thought for a moment, moved.
He spread his legs diagonally, held one open palm forward, and placed his other fist in front of his stomach.
It was the Vyuern family’s unique combat stance.
“You said you wanted to hear our story? Then defeat me.”
“Pardon?”
“The weak are meat, and the strong do eat. If you want something, then take it. That is… the law of this world, or so I was taught, and so I have lived. And I suppose I cannot be an exception.”
Aha, I see. So if I wanted the information, I had to defeat him? Well, now.
“This is going to be way too much fun.”
Spending a long time persuading Teron and listening to some tear-soaked story about his past.
That would be boring and pretentious.
But beating him until he handed over the information?
Not only would it end quickly, it would even be fun.
Maybe it was because I used the Eye Opening skill. Teron looked deeply flustered.
“W-Wait. I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding…!”
Why was this damn clone talking so much?
Enough. If you’re not planning to hand over the information.
Vyuern Family Style Fourth Secret Art.
Meteor Kick.
Just die.
–TL Notes–
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Glorious! There also the fact that the real Lerang seem at peace after Zero defeat the clone,So perhaps some feeling do pass over?
I wonder how the player would have to do it without Zero special privilege and no 1v1? Uncover it playthrough by playthrough before hand and trigger special conversation early?
And what would Zero get from the chapter 2 boss this time? Probably not one of Vyuern family skill…Charisma?Cultivation method? Charisma?
And also…In the future would Zero need to fight Heavenly Kimg or Legion commander back to back?